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Edsons journey as a volunteer with CICD

Dec 30, 2025 | After the programme, In Africa and India, Students Testimonials

Edson and teachers trainees in Dowa, Malawi

By Edson Eduardo, Volunteer for Change team in April 2024

Hello!
My name is Edson Eduardo, I’m from Brazil, and I decided to write you and tell you a little bit about my amazing journey as a volunteer with CICD.

In January 2024, I joined CICD as a Gaia student, where I had the opportunity to raise a scholarship for my program. It was a great experience, working together with people from all over the world, sharing community life, and driving our effort to reach our goal together.

The first small steps to big changes

After the Gaia period, during our 3-month preparation for the projects in Africa, we were challenged in many different aspects, aiming to develop skills that would be used during our project period. 3 immersive months of studies, discussions, common meetings, knowledge exchange, decisions – choosing wisely our project, and finally getting ready to go!
Sounds interesting? Trust me, it is much more than you think!

Teacher trainee students & Edson
Teacher trainee students & Edson
Preparing Nsima for lunch at the college
Preparing Nsima for lunch at the college

6 months in Malawi with Humana People to People

I had chosen DAPP TTC Dowa, Malawi as my project. DAPP TTC is a Teacher Training College based in Dowa, where students are trained to become primary school teachers in the rural areas of Malawi.

The importance of this project is due to the fact that nowadays there is a huge need for teachers in Malawi, mostly in rural areas where there are many remote villages. As a development instructor, I had the opportunity to be part of the change in many ways, supporting teachers and students, taking leadership in activities and tasks, and sharing knowledge through workshops, presentations, and lessons.

I had to be resourceful, learning and teaching how to use available local resources, such as recycling for example. I was working shoulder by shoulder with the teachers and students in the Building Weekends, motivating, encouraging and empowering people, not only with words, but with practical actions.

Music Club at TTC in Dowa
Music Club at TTC in Dowa
Teachers meeting about progress in the Pre schools
Teachers meeting about progress in the Pre schools

The power of the community

Being in Malawi for six months was a great opportunity to learn and see the power of the community. People gathering their effort and strength to make things happen, to promote changes and a better life for each other. 

Music Club at TTC in Dowa
Music Club at TTC in Dowa
Teachers meeting about progress in the Pre schools
Teachers meeting about progress in the Pre schools

Invitation for you!

After the project period in Malawi, I have been in Madrid and Budapest with my team mates for our Bringing it to the Public period. For two weeks, we shared our experiences through an exhibition showing pictures, local clothes, and many local materials from Malawian artists. It was such a pleasure to take Malawi with us to Europe and inspire people with our message!

That is how I could contribute for six months, and that is how you also can be part of this. Maybe in farming, education, and health projects, wherever you are, you can be helpful and fruitful. If you are looking for an opportunity to travel with purpose, get connected with people, and make changes, I do encourage you not to do this alone; join us! Let’s do it together!
I wish you a new year full of transformation, wise decisions, and inspiration to get start a new journey with us at CICD.

What do you think about this? I look forward to hear from you – contact me to schedule a call or just get some more information! Email:

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CICD
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Aug 27, 2026 |

We usually don’t think twice when we hear the word “aid.” Most of us assume that helping someone is always a good thing—after all, how could giving to the poor be wrong? But I’ve realized that there is a big difference between just being “charitable” and actually doing development in a way that changes lives forever.

I used to think that poverty was just a lack of money, but the truth is often about a lack of
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A powerful example of this is the story of Muhammad Yunus. He met a woman who had to borrow less than a dollar from a moneylender just to survive, but the terms were so bad she was basically a slave. He realized that by giving just $27 out of his own pocket, he could free 42 people from that cycle. This wasn’t just “giving money”; it was proving that the poor—especially women—are trustworthy and “credit-worthy,” even without any collateral.
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Finally, we have to look at how governments help. In Brazil, a program called Bolsa Família has liftedd millions out of poverty, but it isn’t just a “free gift”. Families only get the support if they meet social requirements, like making sure their kids go to school and get vaccinated. This way, the help isn’t just a temporary fix; it’s an investment in the next generation.

The more I learned, the more I saw that the best kind of development is about empowering people to be their own driving force for change. It’s about building their capacities, so they don’t need “aid” anymore.

My Personal Turning Point I never used to think about the “aid industry” this way. I just thought help was help. But exploring these different models and seeing how much impact
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Thanks for reading, a. see you soon!

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