Paying It Forward: How Sierra Leone Shaped Chris Thomas’s Life of Service”

While working with Plan International in Sierra Leone for several years, I always admired the Peace Corps Volunteers upcountry who showed a kind of grit and grace that stays with you for life. Chris's journey reflects that same lineage. He learned from villagers who lived with dignity amid hardship, absorbed their lessons about community and perseverance, and then carried those values into a global career—most notably through his work with the World Bank and other international institutions. What makes his story compelling is how seamlessly he connects the wisdom of rural Sierra Leone with the demands of international development, paying forward what he gained in those early years and honoring the people who shaped him.