Madagascar: Mourning a soldier of Jesus – “Fr Jean-Simon was a true soldier of Jesus. He struggled to help the poorest of the poor, the excluded and the oppressed. He was the one whom people turned to when they were in need.” This is how Masy Razafindradama remembers Fr Jean-Simon Ratsimbazafy SJ, a Malagasy Jesuit who died after an illness, aged 52, on 21 January 2016. His death is a huge loss for the poor and sick people he served; for the staff at the Centre Social Arrupe (CSA), which he set up and ran for many years; for the national struggle against HIV and AIDS; and for the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), of which he was a veteran and valued member… Read more 

Madagascar: An amazing team – You have an amazing team! Above all, keep your enthusiasm and courage alive! The team of the Centre Social Arrupe (CSA) in Madagascar fully deserve this praise showered upon them by AJAN Director Paterne Mombe SJ. A visit to the CSA projects in Madagascar in early February filled both Fr Paterne and the team with hope. While deeply saddened by the recent loss of Fr Jean-Simon, they are motivated by his inspirational example and eager to build on his legacy… Read more

Burundi: SYM gets CD4 machine – The Service Yezu Mwiza (SYM) in Burundi has taken a significant step ahead in the medical treatment it offers to more than 1200 people living with HIV, thanks to the acquisition of a CD4 count machine… Read more