This July, we join the global Jesuit family in celebrating the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola on July 31st, the founder of the Society of Jesus. His legacy of discernment, service, and deep spiritual commitment continues to inspire our mission.

We’re thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the AHAPPY Storytelling Youth Contest 2025 – Creative Writing Edition, which began on 20th April. With over 100 submissions from young people across Africa, the contest featured heartfelt essays, powerful poems, and inspiring short stories. The winning entries, revealed on 31st July, beautifully captured themes of faith, resilience, personal transformation, social responsibility, and youth as agents of change. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, your voices are shaping a more hopeful, compassionate future. Congratulations!

On the global stage, UNAIDS released its 2025 Global AIDS Update on July 10, sounding the alarm over a historic funding crisis that threatens to reverse decades of hard-won progress in the fight against HIV. In the face of these challenges, AJAN remains steadfast in its mission of advancing holistic, community-led initiatives that promote HIV prevention, offer care and support for the vulnerable population and foster the integral development of the young people.

Guided by the second Universal Apostolic Preference that calls us to walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice and inspired by the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis, AJAN continues to uphold the dignity of each person by addressing their physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

We at AJAN also take this time to give thanks to God for the great joy and consolation brought by the establishment of the new Rwanda-Burundi Province. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Fr. Fabien Gasigwa, SJ, the first Provincial, and to all Jesuit companions in this new Province.

Inside this issue we celebrate the power of youth-led action that have taken shape in Kenya and Togo. With great enthusiasm, youth leaders from the Catholic Diocese of Garissa, Emmaus Parish and Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Hola Kenya, have begun implementing their post-training action plans to address pressing local challenges that exist within their communities. In Kangemi, Kenya, Saint Joseph Development Programmes (SJDP) hosted a vibrant Youth Forum focused on supporting survivors and ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV).Meanwhile, in Lomé, Togo, youth from Centre Espérance Loyola (CEL) led an inspiring environmental initiative — showcasing their commitment to ecological responsibility and community well-being.

By, Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer.