In this June 2025 issue of AJANews, AJAN joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of the African Child, observed on 16th June. This day offers an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and progress of African children while also reflecting on their fundamental rights to safety, dignity, and opportunity, especially in the face of adversity.

This year’s continental theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights,” found a striking local expression in AJAN’s core value of promoting, “Life to the Full”. While food and shelter are rightly prioritized in emergencies, education must be treated with the same urgency. Why? Because education is not just about learning, it is a lifesaving intervention.

Despite the progress made towards child-friendly budgeting, education remains underfunded, particularly in emergencies. This is unacceptable. In the 21st century, access to free, inclusive, and quality education should never be negotiable. Schools are more than classrooms, they are safe spaces where children heal, grow, and reclaim their childhoods. When we invest in education, we invest in breaking cycles of poverty and conflict, empowering children to rebuild their communities.

At AJAN, we recognize that without access to education, children in crisis are far more vulnerable to a range of challenges, including child labor, early marriages, engaging in premarital sex, and ultimately, the loss of their full potential. Education is not just a basic right but a powerful tool that equips young people with the knowledge, values, and opportunities they need to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

Drawing inspiration from Catholic Social Teaching, AJAN upholds the dignity of every child and advocates for their right to holistic development. We believe that education is a fundamental pillar in nurturing responsible, empowered, and morally grounded individuals. Guided by the principles of solidarity, the common good, and a preferential option for the poor, we strive to create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually, regardless of their circumstances.

As we celebrate the African Child on the strides, he/she has taken, we recall the “prophetic message”, which the late Pope Francis delivered during his pastoral visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) “Never give up on your dreams, never completely bury a calling, and never accept defeat. Keep seeking at least partial or imperfect ways to live what you have discerned to be your real calling.” (– Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 2019, no. 272)  One of Africa’s riches is the keen intelligence of its young people.  May your commitment to studies contribute to the human and integral development of society.” 

21 June – Feast of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga we commemorate in the Catholic Church the life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron and protector of the AJAN network. His life stands as a powerful symbol of compassion, selfless service, and unwavering dedication to the sick, the vulnerable, and those pushed to the margins of society. May his example continue to inspire young people to build a more just and compassionate world that safeguards the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable.

In this spirit, we invite you to explore our June edition stories where, we highlight inspiring feedback from young representatives of St. Joseph Development Programmes–Kangemi (SJDP) and Centre Arrupe Madagascar (CA-MDG), who participated in the 8th Annual Africa Conference on Social Entrepreneurship (AACOSE), Celebration of St. Aloyisus Day at St. Als Secondary School, Nairobi, Kenya, Monitoring of AHAPPY Program activities in partner schools by Jesuit Urumuri Centre (JUC), Rwanda, the commemoration of the International Day of the African Child by SJDP, Kangemi, Kenya, as well as Youth participation in the Easter Conference and Leadership Training an initiative that was undertaken by the integral youth development office in Zimbabwe and Youth Skills training activities at Holy Family Catholic Parish, Liberia. 

Par, Dennis Owuoche,

Chargée de communication, AJAN