February marked a significant spiritual moment for the Church and our AJAN network as Lent began on 18 February 2026. This sacred season invites us into deeper prayer, reflection, and a renewed commitment to the Gospel, values at the heart of AJAN’s mission to accompany young people and empower communities.

On 20 February, we also commemorated the World Day of Social Justice, a timely reminder that faith must be expressed through concrete action. This day invites us to reflect on the importance of building societies grounded in fairness, dignity, and equal opportunity for all. Social justice is not simply an aspiration; it requires deliberate action, inclusive systems, and sustained commitment. As a network, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to promote life to the full, reaching out to those at the margins, and create environments where our young people can thrive.

In his 2026 Lenten message, Pope Leo XIV highlighted listening, fasting, and prayer as the pillars of Lent, a season to “put the mystery of God back at the centre of our lives.” On listening, he writes: “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.” Drawing on his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, he reminds us that “the condition of the poor is a cry that… constantly challenges our lives, societies, political and economic systems, and, not least, the Church.” By opening our hearts in this way, God teaches us to listen as He does, guiding both personal conversion and social responsibility.

Turning to the traditional Lenten practice of fasting, Pope Leo XIV describes abstaining from food as “an ancient ascetic practice that is essential on the path of conversion.” He notes that fasting, “precisely because it involves the body, makes it easier to recognize what we ‘hunger’ for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance,” helping believers “identify and order our ‘appetites,’ keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency.”

The Pope emphasizes that fasting must be lived “in faith and humility” and grounded in communion with the Lord. He proposes a practical Lenten resolution: “a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor.” He urges: “Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander… Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.”

In conclusion, the Pope invites us all: “Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer is welcomed, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love.”

As we journey through this Lent towards Easter, we reaffirm our mission to accompany young people towards a hope-filled future. By nurturing young people through social entrepreneurship, health awareness, and community empowerment initiatives, AJAN walks closely with them in their everyday realities, helping them discover their God-given potential, make responsible life choices, and grow into compassionate leaders committed to transforming their communities.

Inside this issue: Inside this issue, get to read about the AHAPPY ToT for the young people that took place in Rumbek, S.Sudan, the Global Education Immersion Programme (GEIP 2026) that brought together students from Belvedere College SJ, Dublin, Republic of Ireland and St. Joseph Technical Senior School (SJDP), Kangemi, Kenya for two transformative weeks of learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Discover how Centre Arrupe in Madagascar, through Radio Don Bosco, is creating vibrant spaces for dialogue with young people — fostering inclusion, empowerment, and the emergence of a generation capable of leading sustainable initiatives. In Tanzania, Radio Kwizera hosted two important partner visits: a two-day mental health workshop for journalists conducted by Deutsche Welle Akademie, and a visit by BBC Media Action donors from Canada and Sweden, highlighting ongoing collaborations to strengthen youth engagement and media capacity across the region. In DRC, CVX-St Ignace has resumed its nutritional support programme. At the same time, the women’s microcredit initiative supported by AJAN continues to bear fruit, with many women living with HIV growing their businesses despite ongoing challenges in Kingabwa.

This February, as the Lenten journey begins, we invite our network and partners to continue fostering spaces for listening, dialogue, and action, ensuring that young people are not only participants in AJAN’s mission but also active leaders of renewal, hope, and positive change within their communities.

By, Mr. Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer.