ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

AJAN facilitates and coordinates efforts of Jesuits in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa through Networking, Communication, Capacity Building, Advocacy, Resource Mobilization and Fundraising.

Jesuits efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa include offering services such as HIV Care and Treatment, Psycho-social Support through Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Spiritual and Psycho-social Counseling and Integral Human Development through livelihood support and giving education sponsorship to orphans and vulnerable children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS.

AJAN through its AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme for the Youth (AHAPPY) Programme seeks to empower the youth in Africa to live responsibly.

WHERE WE ARE

Central African Province (ACE)

In the Central African Province (ACE), AJAN operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Centre Maisha and the Foyer Louis de Gonzague (Aloysius Gonzaga Forum) are leading AJAN HIV and AIDS Projects in Kisangani and Kikwit regions respectively.

The projects offers holistic and personalized care to people infected and affected with HIV and AIDS and also carries out HIV and AIDS Awareness activities especially among the youth by encouraging them to live positively. Other Jesuit Parishes in DRC with active HIV and AIDS Ministry include St Pierre Claver in Bukavu, Jesuit High Schools and Colleges of formation such as the faculty of philosophy of St Pierre Canisius

Southern Africa Province (SAP)

It brings together the present territories of the dependent Region of South Africa, the Province of Zimbabwe-Mozambique and the Province of Zambia-Malawi. The countries where the Jesuits work in this new Province are the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, Integral Youth Development (IYD) empowers young people years in schools, colleges, orphan institutions, parishes and communities to avoid Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV infections. IYD envisions an empowered generation of young people free from HIV and AIDS who uphold love and justice for human life and are responsible members of society. Chikuni Home based Care in Zambia is also part of AJAN.

Rwanda-Burundi Region (RWB)

Service Yezu Mwiza (SYM) translated as ‘Good Jesus’ in Kirundi (language) supports HIV infected and affected persons. The project offers services such as HIV Treatment and Care, nutritional care, pastoral and psycho-social support, supports orphans and vulnerable children among other roles. SYM is known for its mobile clinic in reaching out to people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in rural areas in Burundi.

Eastern Africa Province (AOR)

North Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia
Eastern Africa Province (AOR) is home to AJAN Head Quarters in Nairobi. The Province has HIV and AIDS projects in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia. St Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, Children of God Relief Institute (COGRI) famously known as Nyumbani Children’s Home and Upendo OVC and Uzima Programme at St. Joseph Parish, Kangemi are key HIV and AIDS Projects in Kenya. Campion Jesuit College and Radio Kwizera are HIV and AIDS projects in Northern Uganda and Western Tanzania respectively.

North-West Africa Province (ANW)

The Jesuits of North-West Africa Province of the Society of Jesus comprises of five countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone Gambia. The Jesuits of North-West Africa Province are actively involved in various ministries in which they constantly seek the greater glory of God in Africa and in the whole world.

Western Africa Province (AOC)

In Western Africa Province (AOC), HIV and AIDS Ministry is active in Togo, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Côte d’Ivoire and Bukina Faso. These projects include Centre Ésperance Loyola in Lome, Togo, Libermann College in Cameroon, Catholic University Centre in Bangui, Association Solidarité Vie et Santé (ASVS – Association of Solidarity, Life and Health), and the Association Bénévoles de l’Espérance (ABE – Volunteer Hope Association) in Ouagadougou, Bukina Faso and in Côte d’Ivoire, under the Christian Life Community (CLC) which has a Commission for action against AIDS.

Madagascar Province

In Madagascar Province, Centre Social Arrupe (CSA) in Antananarivo offers HIV prevention, access to treatment and care to both infected and affected by the disease.

VISION

Empowered individuals, families, and communities working towards an HIV and AIDS-free society and fullness of life (John 10:10).

MISSION

To support Jesuits and their coworkers or collaborators in responding to HIV and AIDS through facilitation and support, Networking, Advocacy, Research, and resource mobilisation

CORE VALUE

We promote “life to the full”. We encourage those infected by HIV to live positively and responsibly, to take an active part in ministering to the needs of others, in other words: to be “fully alive”.

FR. MATAMBURA ISMAEL SJ

DIRECTOR

AJAN SECRETARIAT

Director REV. Ismael Matambura works with a talented team of professionals to accomplish AJAN’s goals and mission.

JOYCE WANJALA MBULA GITHAE

Accountant-Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM)

Dennis Owuoche Shadrack

COMMUNICATION AND RESEARCH OFFICER

Fr. Paul C. Hamill SJ

Treasurer and director JCAM development Office

PASCALIA SERGON

CAPACITY BUILDING OFFICER

AJAN MANDATE

AJAN was founded to undertake the following objectives:

Help Jesuits in each African country where there is a presence to respond to HIV and AIDS by bringing those involved together into a task force/working group.
Bind these national working groups to step by step into an effective continental Jesuit Network with its own voice and ability to act in a coordinated fashion.
Develop good relations of cooperation with many other groups and associations, and with larger Church and Society of Jesus, relationships based on sharing of information, expertise and financial resource.

By these objectives, AJAN is the technical body of JCAM plenary on issues of HIV/AIDS. The AJAN team reflects, conducts research and advises the plenary on the direction and concrete actions to take in order to orient the mission of the conference regarding HIV/AIDS for greater and holistic impact with respect to the ever-evolving context.

HOW AJAN FUND IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

AJAN encourages society and collaborates with well-wishers to show love and care for the vulnerable in society through; Medical Treatment, Psychosocial Support, Pastoral Care, Support Home Visits and Support Group Activities, Income Generating Activities, Education and Sponsorship, Provision of Basic Services such as Food, Shelter Construction and Repair, Clothing and Volunteering.