Jossam Josiah Katanga is a passionate community development advocate, with over seven years of experience in project design, implementation, and evaluation gained from his work with international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), particularly VSO. Starting his journey as a Youth Volunteer with VSO, Jossam has grown into a dedicated community worker, tirelessly promoting enhanced community participation and improving livelihoods and employability for both skilled and unskilled individuals. Throughout his time with VSO Tanzania, Jossam has played crucial roles in delivering eight impactful projects. His early experiences in volunteerism instilled in him the fundamental principle of engaging communities in the design of interventions, allowing him to effectively assess their needs and develop practical solutions. Jossam’s journey has been enriched by collaborating with volunteers from diverse backgrounds, leading him to document key approaches that foster sustainable changes in communities. Among these are improved service delivery through Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM), enhanced access to justice via paralegals, and increased community participation through the MILE approach. His commitment to community development continues to inspire and drive positive change in the lives of those he serves. Jossam will be presenting on “The power of volunteerism in making the world a safe space to live” in a Human Library Session during the IVCO 2024 Conference.