The Brief: Getting Our Young People Back on Track

In our SEPTEMBER edition of AJANEWS issue we basically focus on getting our young people back on track through ways that engages them in becoming role-model in society and accompanying them in the creation of a hope-filled future through the launching of the “AJAN Youth to Youth Initiatives” for the period 2022/23, across all our networks and by scaling up the AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme for the Youth (AHAPPY).

Around the world and in Africa particularly, children are deprived of education and learning for various reasons. Poverty remains one of the most obstinate barriers, children whose parents are affected with HIV/AIDS directly or indirectly face huge hurdles in getting the funding needed as they pursue their studies. School saves lives and keeping our young people and girls in a safe classroom through engaging them in positive social activities helps ensure their rights to education is upheld and prevents HIV infection.

According to the principles of Ignatian spirituality, AMDG, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, AJAN undertakes its activities for the Greater Glory of God; and Magis. Our service to the young people does not only prepare them to live a positive life and become future leaders, but also allow them to contribute to the growth of the society. God uses young people to do great things. An example is where, God used Timothy to shepherd and lead the Ephesian church when he was a teenager. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Through the AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme for the Youth (AHAPPY), we are at the core of championing Jesuits work across countries in Africa by fighting inequalities through, protecting girls and young people from HIV infection, sexual violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, and creating opportunities for access to education, health, and jobs.

As we launch the “AJAN Youth to Youth Initiatives” to be undertaken in all AJAN centers in Africa, we still believe that the youth still need guidance and support as they navigate through the most challenging part of their development and seek to grow in their walk with Christ so as to Create a more Caring and Compassionate African generation full of hope and  Committed to protect the Planet. Solidarity, a prime principle of Catholic social teaching, confirms that each person is connected to – and dependent on – all humanity, collectively and individually: Pope Francis does not only call men and women to live as one, each taking care of the other, but also, he calls upon us to look at one another and give yourself to another with love”.

Por, Dennis Owuoche

AJAN Communication and Research Officer