Why Volunteer with NAKKSP?
Volunteers are at the heart of the National Association of Kpelle and Kpelle Speaking People (NAKKSP). From community educators and youth leaders to technical advisers in the diaspora, volunteers help us extend our reach and deepen our impact in Kpelle‑speaking communities.
Whether you live in a Kpelle community, elsewhere in Liberia, or abroad, there is a place for you to contribute your time, skills, and passion. This page explains the types of volunteer roles we offer, what we expect, and how you can get started.
Types of Volunteer Opportunities
NAKKSP welcomes volunteers with different backgrounds and levels of experience. You can serve in one or more of the following ways:
Community & Youth Volunteers
- Support reading clubs, tutoring sessions, and youth groups.
- Help organize community meetings and awareness events.
- Assist with basic data collection and participant registration.
Project & Field Support Volunteers
- Accompany staff during community outreach activities.
- Support farmer groups, savings groups, or women’s groups.
- Help document project activities through notes and photos.
Cultural & Language Volunteers
- Collect and document Kpelle stories, proverbs, and songs.
- Support language learning activities for children and youth.
- Assist with editing or translating simple Kpelle content.
Diaspora & Professional Volunteers
- Provide technical advice in areas like education, health, IT, or fundraising.
- Help connect NAKKSP with partners, networks, or sponsors.
- Support remote tasks such as writing, design, or online outreach.
Where Can You Volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities are available at different levels, depending on your location and availability:
- Community Level: Within Kpelle‑speaking towns and villages in Liberia.
- County / Regional Level: Supporting county‑level chapters or partners.
- National Level: Contributing to NAKKSP national initiatives and events.
- Diaspora Chapters: Serving in NAKKSP chapters abroad or supporting from your country of residence.
- Remote / Online: Providing support through writing, translation, design, training, or advocacy from any location.
What Volunteers Do
Tasks will depend on your role, skills, and the needs of the project at a given time. Typical volunteer tasks include:
- Facilitating small group discussions, reading circles, or youth sessions.
- Helping to organize events, trainings, or cultural activities.
- Supporting simple monitoring activities (attendance, basic forms, photos).
- Sharing skills through short trainings (for example, on leadership, basic IT, or record‑keeping).
- Assisting with communications, reporting, or online outreach.
Time commitment: Some volunteers support one‑off events, while others give a few hours each week or several days per month. We will discuss a suitable schedule with you during the application process.
What You Gain & What We Expect
Benefits for Volunteers
- Opportunity to contribute directly to Kpelle language, culture, and community development.
- Practical experience in community outreach, project work, and leadership.
- Mentoring and learning from experienced community leaders and professionals.
- Where possible, recognition letters or certificates of service.
- Connection to a wider network of NAKKSP members and partners.
Our Expectations
- Respect for NAKKSP values, communities, and partners.
- Reliability—keeping agreed schedules and communicating if plans change.
- Willingness to learn and follow guidance from coordinators.
- Commitment to safeguarding, non‑discrimination, and peaceful behavior.
How to Become a Volunteer
The process to join as a volunteer is simple and designed to ensure that you are placed in a role that matches your interests and skills.
- Express Interest: Use the contact form on our website or speak to a local NAKKSP representative to indicate your interest in volunteering.
- Complete a Short Form: Share basic information about yourself, your skills, location, and availability. (You may download our volunteer form or request a printed copy.)
- Discussion with a Coordinator: NAKKSP staff or a chapter leader will discuss potential roles with you and explain expectations.
- Orientation: Before you start, you will receive a simple orientation on NAKKSP’s mission, projects, and basic volunteer guidelines.
- Placement & Support: You will be linked to a specific project, activity, or chapter, and given a focal person to support you in your role.
To start the process, please contact us using the details on our main site or speak with the NAKKSP chapter closest to you.
Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
We welcome volunteers who believe in the mission of NAKKSP and are willing to serve respectfully in Kpelle‑speaking communities or in support roles. Youth, students, professionals, community elders, and diaspora members are all encouraged to apply. Some roles may have minimum age requirements, especially for work with children.
Speaking Kpelle is an asset, especially for community‑based roles, but it is not required for all volunteer positions. Some technical, administrative, or communications roles may be carried out in English or other languages, particularly for diaspora volunteers.
NAKKSP volunteer roles are not salaried positions. In some cases, and depending on resources, small stipends or reimbursements may be provided to cover basic costs such as transportation or communication. Details will be discussed clearly with volunteers before they accept a role.
Where possible, NAKKSP may provide recognition letters or certificates of service for volunteers who complete an agreed period and meet expectations. This can be helpful for further studies, job applications, or community recognition.
Commitments vary. Some volunteers support one‑time events, while others serve for several months or on an ongoing basis. We will agree on a realistic and mutually convenient schedule before you start.