Kasungu, Malawi — The Africa Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) conducted a five-day AHAPPY (AJAN HIV & AIDS Prevention Programme for Youth) Training of Trainers at St Joseph Catholic Parish, Kasungu, Malawi, from 14–18 September 2026. The training brought together 30 youths for an intensive programme focused on life skills, leadership formation, self-awareness, personal responsibility, HIV prevention, creativity and innovation.

Welcoming the AJAN team and participants, the parish priest, Fr Terry Mwando Mteshi, SJ, encouraged the young people to participate actively and develop skills that would enable them to become productive members of their communities.

The training followed the AHAPPY pedagogical approach, rooted in Ignatian spirituality and holistic formation. Participants were encouraged to understand themselves, recognise their strengths and weaknesses, and become more aware of the people and environment around them.

Pascalia Sergon, Acting AJAN Director, opened the formation with a session on self-awareness and reflection. The session invited participants to look inward, understand their personal experiences and recognise how greater awareness of oneself and one’s surroundings can influence decisions and relationships.

The human dimension was explored through sessions facilitated by Samantha Waki, including group work on peer education and psychological development. Participants reflected on the importance of emotional and psychological wellbeing in their personal lives and in their relationships with others.

The training also explored the social dimension of awareness. Agi Peter Onah, SJ, AJAN Liaison Officer, led discussions on the relationship between faith and reason and introduced participants to the African philosophy of Ubuntu. The sessions encouraged young people to draw from their communities, creativity and shared experiences when responding to challenges facing Africa.

Learning from Malawian Innovators

A distinctive feature of the Kasungu training was the opportunity for participants to interact with local and international entrepreneurs and innovators. Their personal stories demonstrated how creativity, resilience, discipline and determination can turn challenges into opportunities.

Among those who addressed the young people was renowned Malawian innovator William Kamkwamba, whose story has inspired people around the world. During a period of drought, Kamkwamba was forced to leave school but continued learning independently by studying books at a local library and experimenting with discarded materials.

His curiosity eventually led him to construct a windmill from materials collected from a scrapyard. The windmill generated electricity and helped pump water for a vegetable garden, demonstrating how a young person’s creativity can respond to a pressing community challenge.

Kamkwamba encouraged the participants to approach challenges as opportunities for innovation rather than allowing difficulties to stop them from pursuing their goals. He emphasised the importance of resilience, reminding the young people that setbacks and failure can form part of the journey towards achievement.

Other Malawian entrepreneurs shared equally practical lessons from their journeys.

Denis Zgambo, popularly known as Mbuzi-Mee, a visual artist, spoke about discovering his passion at primary school and developing his skills over time. Drawing from his own experience, he encouraged young people to invest in creativity and skills development rather than viewing formal employment as the only pathway to success.

Mercy Mayenda, a University of Malawi graduate and entrepreneur, shared how she started her fashion business, Kaunjika, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She attributed her progress to financial discipline and the practical knowledge she gained while studying accounting. Her experience encouraged the participants to combine education with discipline, focus and resilience when developing their own initiatives.

Mavuto Kapelula Nkhoma, founder of Kapelula Furniture and General Dealers in Kasungu, shared his journey from teaching into entrepreneurship. He designs and fabricates machinery for timber processing and agricultural activities and has developed machines including a tractor and maize roller. He also spoke about the role of digital platforms such as YouTube in generating ideas and learning new skills.

Nkhoma encourages young people to make better use of digital resources to develop their skills and create solutions for their communities. He also provides training and industrial attachment opportunities for students.

Franklin Chunga, founder of Nangaunozge Enterprise, shared his transition from employment to entrepreneurship. His business interests include transportation, farming, maize milling and fuel distribution. Having started with a small grocery business, he encouraged young people to cultivate values such as discipline, unity, loyalty, networking and punctuality, while overcoming fear and remaining focused on their goals.

From Training to Action

The stories shared during the training complemented the AHAPPY formation by demonstrating how self-awareness, personal responsibility and practical skills can be translated into action.

Participants were encouraged to identify their own talents and opportunities, develop creative solutions to problems in their communities and use available resources responsibly. The interactions also helped them see entrepreneurship and innovation as possible pathways for creating livelihoods while contributing to community development.

The training concluded with the presentation of the participants’ strategic plans, followed by a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Mteshi.

In his message, Fr Mteshi encouraged the young people to be productive and courageous in using their talents. He reminded them of the importance of having a clear vision and a creative spirit when developing and implementing their plans.

At the conclusion of the celebration, participants received certificates for completing the training.

Pascalia Sergon encouraged the newly trained youth leaders to use the knowledge, resources and tools available to them to support their peers and contribute to the development of their communities.

The Kasungu AHAPPY Training of Trainers demonstrates AJAN’s continued commitment to accompanying young people in building a hope-filled future. By combining HIV prevention and health education with life skills, leadership, self-awareness, faith formation, creativity and entrepreneurship, AHAPPY seeks to equip young people not only with knowledge, but also with the confidence and practical skills to become leaders, peer educators and agents of positive change in their communities.

By, Agi Peter Onah, SJ

AJAN Liaison Officer.