I was privileged to be among the catechists and chaplains who participated in the AHAPPY Training of Trainers organised by AJAN from 1st to 5th September 2026. The training has greatly empowered me and opened my eyes to new ways of understanding myself, the people I serve and the challenges we encounter in the prison environment.

One of the things that impacted me most was the emphasis on self-awareness and Ignatian spirituality. Through the sessions, I was challenged to rediscover myself and become more attentive to my actions, values and beliefs. I realised that before I can effectively accompany others, I must first understand myself and work on my own weaknesses and strengths.

The training also helped me to look differently at the problems we encounter in prisons, including drug and substance abuse, HIV, STIs and other vulnerabilities. I particularly appreciated the tree model, which taught us to look beyond the visible effects of a problem and search for its root causes. Many times, we focus on the “fruits”—the manifestations of a problem—without asking what is happening in the “roots”. Yet it is in the roots that we find the mindsets, beliefs and convictions that often shape behaviour.

This reflection has changed the way I understand my ministry. If we want to help the people we serve experience real and lasting change, we must go beyond treating the symptoms and help them address the deeper issues affecting their lives. We need to accompany them from where they are, especially in their moments of vulnerability, towards the goals they hope to achieve.

I was also deeply touched by the reflection on Cura Personalis and Ubuntu—the call to care for the whole person. As chaplains and catechists, our work is not simply about addressing one particular need. It is about listening to the whole person, recognising their dignity and accompanying them with compassion. We were reminded that even in situations of vulnerability, we can encounter God.

The training also made me reflect on my own roots. I began asking myself: Where do I come from? What has shaped me? Who are the people who have contributed to making me who I am today? I realised that there are people who have been like taproots in my life, giving me strength and helping me become the person I am today. Understanding these roots has helped me appreciate how my own experiences influence the way I serve others.

Above all, this training has reminded me that change begins with me. I am called to be the light that others can look to and to become the change I want to see in the lives of those I serve. AJAN has helped me to see that I cannot always change everything around me, but I can begin with what is within my reach.

One principle shared by Madam Sergon particularly stayed with me: a person who wants to do something finds a way, while one who does not want to do something finds an excuse. I have taken this to heart. Rather than looking for excuses, I want to do what I can, with the abilities God has given me, to make a difference.

I am grateful to AJAN, the facilitators and the organisers for this transformative experience. I leave the training with a renewed sense of responsibility and a commitment to put what I have learned into practice. I may begin with small steps, but I believe that those small steps can contribute to meaningful change in the lives of the people we serve and, ultimately, within the prison service.

The change I want to see must begin with me.

Par, Mr. Daniel Odhiambo Onyango,

Principal Chaplain, Kibos Maximum Prison,

Kenya Prison Service Nyanza Region.