In this September 2024 edition of the AJANews Newsletter, our highlights focus on building a conscious and enterprising generation of young people who are ready to address African challenges such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and youth unemployment. Africa, with its rich natural resources, fast-growing economies, and young, growing population, presents a vast potential for young people to engage in social entrepreneurship and drive positive change.

The second universal apostolic preference, “To walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice” promotes “the change of economic, political and social structures that generate injustice.” This approach challenges us to engage with marginalized communities and understand their needs firsthand, rather than imposing solutions from above. This ethos is central to the AJAN Jesuit Youth Social Entrepreneurship Action (JYSEA). The realization of the importance of resourcing young people and giving them agency to address numerous social and economic issues led to the creation of JYSEA. The goal of JYSEA is two-pronged: to reduce youth unemployment by empowering young people to turn societal challenges into opportunities for entrepreneurship while solving social issues, and to complement our value-based education program for character formation of young people (AHAPPY Generation Program).

On 17^th June 2024 during his general audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis, addressed business leaders to innovate responsibly. He gave them three tasks: to help care for the environment, the poor and young people. “I urge you to place the environment and the earth at the center of your attention and responsibility,” he said, adding that “the innovation of the entrepreneur nowadays must first and foremost be innovation in caring for our common home.” “Do not forget the poorest and the discarded,” he said.

These sentiments were echoed by Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, founder of the Songhaï Centre, in Benin who highlighted the importance of Africa generating its own solutions. He particularly stressed the need to invest in youth and harness their energies to create systems capable of addressing the continent’s complex social and environmental challenges. His remarks came during the third edition of the DRC Social Innovation Summit 2024, held in September, which amplified the voices of young people and women involved in social innovation.

JYSEA builds on the Jesuit legacy of innovation and partnership to address challenges facing youth in a holistic manner. Working with local governments in the member countries, Catholic parishes and educational institutions, AJAN adopts a community driven approach to address social issues. The solutions spearheaded by the community are considered to be more effective, efficient, sustainable and generally useful to all members of society. The core of social innovation is that we seek to add value to society as a whole rather than just grow the profits of private individuals. JYSEA in its baby steps, has covered huge milestones. One of the memorable one bringing together present and aspiring social innovators across the AJAN Network who convened in Kinshasa, DRC, for a two-day summit to showcase the power of youth-led social entrepreneurship in driving positive change in Africa.

Additionally, in this September edition, we invite you to take an interesting journey to ‘Guinée Forestière (Forested Guinea)’ to meet vibrant young people from Guinea Conakry. This September, AJAN continued its mission to build a generation of resilient, happy African youth and foster a spirit of innovative social entrepreneurship. After many years of effort, the AHAPPY Program, in collaboration with AJAN affiliate center Fe y Alegría, finally reached the young people and community of Nzérékoré, Guinea Conakry.

By, Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer