This training was for me a moment of renewal and consolidation of my knowledge for effective and efficient accompaniment of young people. AJAN has understood the importance of youth formation for a brighter future.

This aligns perfectly with the thought of Baye Niass: “Indeed, the future of every nation rests on its youth, but not just any youth—the youth endowed with noble character and lofty ambitions.” Thus, AHAPPY can be presented as a program that helps forge noble character and high ambitions in young people.

Indeed, the training, structured around five modules, aimed to equip trainers with the skills necessary to make youth attentive, intelligent, reasonable, proactive, and wise. In this way, young people can now be engaged in the well-being, care, and protection of our planet. The mission is indeed noble, but it can only be realized through a rigorous and pragmatic approach. In this sense, it is important to highlight some of the fruits of the program at the end of the training.

The AHAPPY program enables young people to be at the heart of essential actions to confront the ills plaguing African youth. Keeping in mind that youth have the potential to take initiatives linked to innovative actions in promoting values and principles crucial for sustainable health and social development, AHAPPY emerges as a tool that first awakens young people through activities, training, and initiatives. This awakening, in turn, fosters awareness of daily realities in order to face challenges with optimism and determination. It gives a unique and exceptional orientation, in that it provides a way to combat inaction and despair. In AJAN’s vision through this program, the young person is not a passive actor.

Another aspect of the program is holistic formation, which embraces all dimensions of the person. This makes it possible to address challenges in such a way as to find responses to problems through a participatory approach, without trivializing any dimension. Another fascinating element is the method, which fosters a certain closeness, as trainers must make the effort to present concepts with facts and gestures adapted to the realities of young people. The final point is the environment that encourages meaningful youth participation.

This training gave me a new way of approaching the problems of youth with optimism and realism. This approach rekindles joy and hope for a world damaged by capitalism, especially in the health sector, where HIV, drugs, abuse, and other issues prevail.

In a few words, the words of Saint Pope John Paul II sum up well the mission of the AHAPPY generation: “Dear young people, you well understand that one is ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’ only if one strives for holiness. How I wish that this lofty spiritual ideal may never be lacking in your lives! Humanity in the third millennium needs young people strong in faith and generous in serving their brothers and sisters. It needs young people who love Christ and his Gospel.”

Therefore, quality training for youth fosters an inner transformation, for the young person who is formed becomes responsible for the well-being of others—out of love and conviction.

By, Jeannot Sylvanus G. Adakpe, SJ

Theologian, ITCJ.