“Linked for Life and Well-being. Promoting a culture of Care and Protection in a more just world”
African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) General Assembly 2025 came to a close at Roussel House, Donum Dei, Nairobi, after five days of deep reflection, learning, and strategic discernment. Gathering under the theme “Linked for Life and Well-being: Shaping Our Common Mission in Africa,” Jesuits and collaborators from across the continent united to reaffirm their shared mission and chart a new path for AJAN’s future.
The latter part of the Assembly, beginning on September 24th to 25th, focused on the Strategic Planning Workshop under the guiding themes “Who We Are and What We Stand For,” “Committing Ourselves to the Mission Together,” and “United for the Future.” Each day invited participants to enter a space of prayer, dialogue, and discernment to rediscover AJAN’s core identity and renew their collective commitment to life, hope, and Social justice in Africa.
The Strategic Planning Session was opened by Fr. José Minaku, SJ, President of JCAM, who set a reflective tone for the day with an inspiring presentation. He reminded participants that “AJAN’s strength does not lie in having perfect strategies, but in being a body that discerns — one that listens to the Spirit of God and responds courageously to the needs of the times.”
Drawing from the words of Pope Francis, Fr. Minaku urged the Assembly to embrace the current moment with faith and courage, saying, “We are not living in an era of change, but a change of epoch. When the wind changes direction, it is useless to adjust the bird’s feathers; one must learn to fly anew.”
He emphasized that the future of AJAN rests on its ability to listen, to one another, to beneficiaries, and to the Spirit for it is through such listening that “we will find new paths of hope.”
Read the JCAM President’s Speech in Full: https://ajan.africa/ajan-a-network-that-discerns-and-embraces-its-growth/
Thereafter participants took time to review and revise AJAN’s Vision and Mission statements, asking vital questions about their relevance and direction in today’s context. Discussions centered on the need to respond to emerging challenges — from youth empowerment, accompaniment and HIV prevention to ecological awareness and social justice. These reflections reaffirmed AJAN’s commitment to holistic human development and the promotion of well-being rooted in the Ignatian spirit of service.
The day’s momentum carried into a values clarification exercise, where participants proposed values that AJAN must continue to embody in its mission.
The following sessions deepened this spirit of collaboration. Participants identified AJAN’s strategic pillars — Health and HIV Response and Prevention; Youth Formation and Economic Empowerment; Resource Mobilization, Sustainability, and Networking; and Advocacy, Research, and Jesuit Identity — and began defining clear objectives, milestones, and commitments for each area.
The final day of the Assembly was filled with joy, creativity, and symbolic meaning. Through a team-building activity titled “The AJAN Human-Machine Challenge,” Participants were asked to form a machine using only their bodies and movements, without speaking. Each person contributes a part — like being a gear, lever, or piston — using gestures and sounds (but no words). — a metaphor for AJAN’s mission of connecting vulnerable youth and communities to hope and opportunity, Lessons on collaboration, trust, creativity, and unity.
During the AJAN General Assembly, Monica Apiyo, a proud graduate of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School and a beneficiary of AJAN programmes, moved participants with her inspiring story of resilience and faith. With courage and grace, she spoke about living with HIV—not as a limitation, but as a testimony of hope. Monica shared how, through AJAN’s support and the AHAPPY programme, she discovered her strength, embraced her identity, and chose to live each day with purpose. Her message reminded everyone that true hope shines brightest in the face of adversity.
While Reflecting on the Assembly;
Fr. Patrice Ndasiyenga, SJ., from Jesuit Urumuri Centre (JUC) Rwanda, said,
“As we return home, we are inspired to initiate new changes, drawing from the new knowledge and mindset we have developed here. Looking at the new strategic Plan, I am pleased with the renewed emphasis on comprehensive health care provision for people living with HIV and other pandemics, as it will help us anticipate potential challenges and respond effectively. Closely related to this is the AHAPPY Generation Clubs program, which we have at JUC—an important tool provided by AJAN to form and inform our youth, who are constantly being bombarded with information from various sources. By anticipating the challenges that young people face, we are able to equip them with discernment tools and values that help them critically examine what they consume outside their classrooms and homes. I believe this contributes greatly to the formation of character and supports AJAN’s mission of preventing the further spread of HIV. Thank you.”
Ms. Lilian Wamboi Waweru, Principal Chaplain, Kenyan Prisons, reflected on this spirit of unity:
My appreciation goes to AJAN for organizing the Assembly, especially the capacity-building sessions that addressed areas that had been less effective, while also highlighting our strengths, weaknesses, and the available opportunities that we as AJAN can tap into.
While reflecting on the work we have been doing with the youth and prisoners, what stood out for me was the part on Noise Analysis — the importance of identifying real needs by going beyond issues directly related to HIV. The point on discernment also came out very strongly; we were guided to look deeply into ourselves and listen to what God is saying to us.
The signing of the agreement at the end of the Strategic Planning was the highlight of the Assembly for me. It felt like a personal commitment — a push forward. The way ahead is to strengthen collaboration between the Chaplaincy and the AJAN office for greater program effectiveness, enhance capacity-building for inmates and staff, especially within the social welfare offices, and bring the team together to foster stronger bonds and unity.
powerful to see everyone’s ideas converge around the same values — it shows that AJAN’s spirit is alive and shared. We are all driven by the same desire: to make faith meaningful in the lives of others.”
In a moment of spiritual conversation, members reflected on what each center and individual is called to contribute to the network.
Fr. Obwanda Meyo, SJ., from Ocer Campion Jesuit College Uganda, expressed it beautifully:
“AJAN’s strength lies in its collaborative spirit. We are learning that mission is not about working alone but walking together — discerning, listening, and acting in unity for the greater good. After being part and parcel of the formulation of the new strategic Plan, we shall own it and do our level best through God’s grace to ensure that the Strategic Plan does not only remain on the paper but to ensure that we actualize it.”
Ms. Samantha Waki, one of the lead facilitators, described the experience as a moment of reflection and empowerment:
“One of the most promising things I observed during the assembly was a stronger youthful presence—not just in terms of age, but also in the fresh perspectives brought by new members who have joined the network. This helped to rejuvenate us and revitalize the organization. Among the highlights was the call to innovate, especially because the young people we serve are themselves highly creative and dynamic. There was also a clear recognition of the need to operate within a broader, more global context. What stood out most, however, was the renewed commitment to our roots—the desire to draw deeply from our own well of history, teachings, and the enduring relevance of Jesuit values and tradition, even in today’s world. This being just a document the proof of the pudding will be in the implementation.”
The day culminated in a Commitment Ritual, where participants symbolically signed a covenant of collaboration and shared mission between AJAN’s Secretariat and field centers.
As the assembly came to an end, we took a moment to celebrate the winners of the AHAPPY Youth Storytelling Contest 2025. The Centre Directors received the awards on behalf of the young people who produced the winning stories, in celebration of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025.
The contest celebrated the creativity, resilience, and voices of young people who, as Pilgrims of Hope, continue to champion AJAN’s mission within their communities. Rooted in the Jesuit mission to accompany young people in creating a hope-filled future and inspired by Pope Francis’ call to be Pilgrims of Hope, these works shine with faith and imagination. They stand as a beacon of light, reminding us that the hope of tomorrow is nurtured by the courage and vision of today’s youth.
Their stories also reflect the lasting impact of the AHAPPY Programme in nurturing informed, value-driven, and socially conscious young people across Africa.
Fr. John the Baptist SJ, Socius, Admonitor and Consultor to the JCAM President concluded the Assembly with a powerful reflection drawn from GC 36 Decree 2, “Renewed Governance for a Renewed Mission.” He invited participants to embrace apostolic availability rooted in spiritual depth and to read the signs of the times with courage and discernment. Highlighting the need for collaboration, formation, and apostolic planning as acts of discernment in action, he called on AJAN to renew its mission with boldness, allowing the Spirit to guide its service in a fractured world.
AJAN is a family that inspires action and hope. This Assembly reminded me that our work is sacred — it’s about transforming lives through faith, compassion, and community.
As the Assembly drew to a close, participants gathered for a Thanksgiving Eucharist, that was led by Fr. Gregory Mulobela SJ, offering the newly developed AJAN Strategic Plan to God.
The final evening ended with a joyful dinner and moments of networking.
Read About Day 1 and 2 of the Directors Capacity Building Session: https://ajan.africa/ajan-general-assembly-2025-kick-off-in-nairobi-with-a-call-to-transformation-and-hope/
By, Dennis Owuoche,
AJAN Communications Officer.
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