Africa Development Corps, also known as Visions in Action, is an international development organization based in Washington, DC with field offices in Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Liberia. ADC implements its own development programs in the areas of food security, education, international exchange, and HIV/AIDS while also providing Volunteer Programs for those looking for a long-term international experience in developing countries. Through its grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers, Africa Development Corps promotes economic and social justice.

Over the past two decades, Africa Development Corps has placed more than 800 long-term volunteers with schools and indigenous development organizations in Africa and Latin America. Africa Development Corps has two types of volunteer programs, the classic volunteer program and the supported volunteer program. The classic volunteer program lasts 6 to 12 months with volunteers working for an indigenous NGO in their field of interest.

Africa Development Corps provides this development and relief assistance through a collaborative approach, and in so doing, facilitates the empowerment of the local community.

Africa Development Corps also holds an international exchange program called the African Youth Leadership program. Each year ADC hosts 48 students and 12 educators from 6 Francophone African countries to participate in an interactive 3 week program. Students learn about civic participation and the functioning of a democratic society as well as impart specific skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and community development.

Core Principles

ADC adheres to the following principles in their approach:

• - Grassroots Approach - Development occurs best when they are as close as possible to the standard of living of those they are trying to assist. Therefore, a modest, low overhead, grassroots approach is taken in all that they do.
• - Volunteerism - They give of theirselves and make sacrifices for the betterment of others, expecting nothing in return.
• - Community - Their volunteers work as a community, living together and supporting one another during the experience.
• - Self Reliance - Participants and members of the community work together to attain self-reliance.

What they do

Food Security - ADC’s Food Security portfolio has expanded rapidly within recent years by addressing immediate needs while promoting long-term project sustainability and capacity building within the communities they serve. ADC’s food security programs have focused on crop and fishery production, seed rice, post-harvest technology and food-for-work programs.

Education - ADC distributes books, constructs schools and libraries, provides scholarships to students and training to teachers and librarians in Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.

Health - HIV/AIDS is one of the main challenges to development in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. ADC has joined hands with dozens of local non-governmental organizations in several African countries to fight the battle against HIV/AIDS. ADC is a PEPFAR partner in Uganda, where they have expanded their traditional volunteer model to include local Ugandan volunteers as peer HIV counselors.

International Exchange - The Africa Youth Leadership Program is aimed at bolstering African high school students’ understanding of civic participation and the functioning of a democratic society as well as impart specific skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and community development. Francophone African secondary students participate in a 3-week exchange program in the Washington DC area three times per year.  

By participating in this exchange program, these future leaders are equipped with the tools needed to tackle the socioeconomic challenges they face in their respective countries. This exchange program also encourages mutual understanding between Americans and Francophone Africans by assigning the students and educators to partners, it is sponsored by the Department of State.