Fr. Ismael Matambura, SJ, Director of the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), is currently on a visit to Canada that began on 14 May 2026 to raise awareness about the network’s mission of preventing HIV infections, supporting people living with HIV, and empowering vulnerable communities across Africa through education, psychosocial support, and livelihood initiatives. During his visit, Fr. Matambura is scheduled to speak at various events in Toronto, Ottawa, and Parkhill, engaging communities and supporters on the importance of solidarity in responding to social and health challenges across Africa.

During the visit, Fr. Matambura was warmly welcomed at Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, May 17, alongside Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) Donor Relations Coordinator Madeline Lunney. The AJAN Director expressed gratitude to Fr. Vernon Boyd, SJ, Fr. Philip Shano, SJ, and the parishioners for their hospitality and solidarity.

Fr. Matambura, a Jesuit priest from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concelebrated Mass with parish priest Fr. Vernon Boyd, SJ, before engaging parishioners in a discussion on the realities of responding to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Africa. He highlighted the urgent need for solidarity and compassionate accompaniment, especially for communities in remote rural areas and prisons where access to healthcare and awareness services remains limited.

Speaking candidly about the challenges faced across the continent, Fr. Matambura emphasized that stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS continues to discourage many people from getting tested or seeking support. He noted that AJAN addresses these challenges through youth leadership initiatives, peer-to-peer awareness campaigns, and livelihood programs that restore dignity and hope to vulnerable individuals and families.

One of the initiatives highlighted during the visit was the Building Resilience in Women and Girls in Africa Project, supported by Canadian Jesuits International. The project is currently being implemented in Burkina Faso, Togo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burundi, South Sudan, and Zambia. The initiative equips vulnerable women and girls, particularly those living with HIV, with financial literacy and business management skills while also providing start-up funding for small enterprises.

To illustrate the impact of these initiatives, Fr. Matambura shared photographs and testimonies from beneficiaries engaged in bread making, tailoring, and other income-generating activities. Their stories demonstrated the life-changing impact of community-based empowerment initiatives supported through international solidarity and partnership.

The visit continues to strengthen the bonds between AJAN, Canadian Jesuits International, and supporters committed to restoring hope, dignity, and resilience among vulnerable communities across Africa.

(With thanks to visiting Jesuit priest Fr. Richard Ella, SJ, for taking the photographs.)

Story shared by Canadian Jesuits International (CJI).