Africano Mande Foundation

Volunteer Services Information Guide

AMF solicits and welcomes volunteers from across the world who bring in relatively free skills and knowledge for the benefits of building AMF institutional capacity and above all for the benefit of the communities in Maridi, South Sudan that AMF services through its various projects.

Where to volunteer

The primary location for all AMF volunteers is Maridi which is located in the Western Equatoria Region of the Republic of South Sudan. Maridi is situated about 175 miles from Juba, the Capital City. Maridi is known for its lush green captivating natural beauties, plenty of rainfall, plenty of fertile farm lands and plenty of farm products which are all organic. Maridi produces one of the best mangoes in South Sudan and many more fruits such as pineapples, variety of oranges, bananas, papaya, passion fruits, jackfruits, soursop (Graviola or Annona muricata) and many other edible wild fruits. Maridi is also a home for organic coffee and coffee drinking from the locally grown and roasted coffee. A variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, cucumber, eggplants and others are grown in Maridi. A variety of sweet potatoes, cassava, yams and taro roots and others are grown in Maridi. Above all Maridi is a home to the best organic honey in South Sudan with its product tested and certified internationally. The bees and honeycomb actually form a part of Maridi symbol which the people of Maridi are often proud of.

How to volunteer with AMF

There are five steps required for one to become a volunteer with AMF

Step One:

An individual or a team of individuals must apply online or download the form and dully fill in the volunteer forms and then upload. In an event of a group volunteer application, each individual must fill a form. The form basically requires presentation of a background of the prospective individual(s), what skills, knowledge, expertise and experiences a volunteer(s) can bring to help AMF and the communities. A prospective volunteer shall be required to attach a summarized CV with at least two (2) references and also provide a letter of recommendation form an identifiable institution.

Step Two:

Submit the dully filled form online to the AMF Volunteer Services Department to review

Step Three:

AMF Volunteer Services Department will conduct thorough background check, vet and final issue a security clearance.

Step Four:

AMF will be responsible for processing Visa Application for non-South Sudanese coming in from outside South Sudan

Step Five:

An applicant must expect a follow up communication from the AMF volunteer Services Department

Volunteer Areas & Opportunities

AMF has seven (7) performance areas which are also reflected in the Departments. Volunteers with AMF are encouraged to volunteer in any of these performance areas which include:

  • Health (outreach health services, ambulance rides for evacuations, first aid services, nursing, midwifery services, surgery services, Doctor’s consultations etc);
  • Education (academics, research, life skills, general teachings and trainings, conservation, physical training such as sports, recordings, documenting and preservation of cultural heritages etc);
  • Media & ICT (99.4 Foundation FM Radio station, film & documentaries productions, website maintenance);
  • Production & livelihoods (Farming, apiary, animal husbandry, poultry, fish pond development & management etc);
  • Technical services for community development (constructions & maintenances of roads, bridges, houses, solar power, water supplies etc);
  • Corporate services (human resource development and management, institutional development, development of manuals, financial management, clerical works, date generation and storage etc).
  • Volunteer services (improving the volunteer information and services etc)

It is also expected that a volunteer can be creative and also think and work outside of the box. AMF will always accept new ideas in as long as it does not contradict the vision and mission of AMF.

Experiences during volunteer works in Maridi

AMF provides facilitations to volunteer in Maridi and also provides local accommodation with relatively decent amenities. Although there are visible apathy and ineptness, volunteers through AMF in Maridi, get amazing and captivating experiences.

  • Maridi still offers a captivating beauty, and it is a green belt, a fountain of peace, a cradle of rich cultures and a basket of untapped wealth. For a volunteer who is a lover of nature, Maridi offers breathtaking scenes of hills, water bodies and captivating forests. The forests are homes to hundreds of bird species, insects, butterflies and small wild animals hence making Maridi a home to biodiversity and opportunities for researchers to explore the natural forests for species of animals and plants.
  • For a volunteer who is a love of culture and tradition, Maridi also offers a cradle of rich cultures and tradition which are illustrated in the forms of unique songs, rituals, dances and rites of its people.
  • Volunteers in Maridi can join AMF staffs and fans on foot or riding mountain bicycles for hikes on the hills of Maridi and to enjoy captivating sunset. Volunteers can hike through the villages and along the way stop for cups of hot traditional organic coffee and tea.
  • Volunteers can experience that, the people of Maridi are lovers of music which are interwoven in their cultures and traditions. Local artists occasionally display their musical talents during special occasions and on weekends in the local get-together joints. Volunteers will often hear the sounds of local music on 99.4 Foundation FM and on Maridi FM featuring music and songs of artists from Maridi such as Mr. Lengs, Mary Ade (The Queen of Gospel Music), Ramces, Ambiringi Band, etc.
  • Volunteers are encouraged to get a taste of the local food which can be found in the local eating joints with a famous one being “The Samaria Lounge”. On many occasions, an individual can make special requests for the local foods to be prepared.
  • Volunteers are encouraged to visit “The Maridi Organic Farm” about 9 miles away east of Maridi town. While in the farm, a volunteer can take a 10 km hike, walk or bicycle ride. With a tour of the farm, a volunteer can enjoy to see the varieties of plant species and many other scenic views. The “Maridi Organic Farm” is the source for the famous “Maridi Organics Company Ltd”, the winner of the xx and which offers varieties of organic products ranging from organic foods to organic skincare products and essential oils from indigenous line of wild-grown herbs and plants
  • Volunteers are encouraged to visit the Maridi Organics shop to discover pure elegance as Maridi Organics shop unveils organic wonders which enables a volunteer to indulge in the essence of nature with the debut collection featuring organic skincare, heavenly scented candles, hair care miracles, soothing massage oils, therapeutic elixirs, organic locally produced golden honey, organic locally grown coffee and hibiscus tea – all meticulously crafted using pristine organic treasures from Maridi.
  • Volunteers are encouraged to go sightseeing tour of Maridi in general with so many captivating views and places such as the lake formed as a result of construction of a mini Maridi Dam between 1954 and 1955 by E.E. Spice and T.B. Mordecai. There is also the Anglican Cathedral built in the 1920s by William Haddow and with stone plaque laid on it on November 4th 1930 by Lieutenant Colonel F.C.C Balfour, C.I.E.M.C Governor of the Province by then where Maridi was situated. There is also the House of the then British colonial Governor situated on top of one of the many hills in Maridi town.
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