In this October edition of AJANews, we pause to honour girls and recognise their vital role in shaping a better future. The International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated on 11 October, provides an opportunity to recognise their courage, amplify their voices and renew our collective commitment to protecting their rights and dignity. We also marked World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2026, which calls for meaningful engagement with people with lived experience (PWLE) of mental health conditions and recognition of their knowledge as a vital form of expertise.

This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl Child, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”, calls on everyone to listen to girls’ stories, support their aspirations and create environments where they can thrive. Every girl deserves a childhood, the freedom to learn and grow, the opportunity to make her own choices and the right to shape her future. Yet millions of girls continue to be denied these fundamental rights. According to the United Nations, more than 12 million girls are married before reaching adulthood every year, with sub-Saharan Africa recording one of the highest prevalence rates. Child marriage deprives girls of educational opportunities, threatens their health and exposes them to violence, social isolation and lasting emotional and psychological distress.

For World Mental Health Day, this year’s theme, “Lived experiences heard real voices, real change,” highlights the importance of meaningfully engaging people with lived experience of mental health conditions and recognising their knowledge as an essential form of expertise. Beyond simply listening to their experiences, their inclusion in decision-making processes, guided by respect, recognition and dignity, creates opportunities for them to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, challenge stigma and promote accountability. Their active participation is essential in building mental health systems that are more person-centred, rights-based and responsive to people’s needs.

Against this backdrop, AJAN continues to highlight the importance of accompanying young people and vulnerable communities through holistic well-being education, empowerment and initiatives that promote dignity, resilience and hope.

Inside this newsletter, we feature the visit of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, to Holy Family Catholic Parish in Liberia; the celebration of ABE@20, marking two decades of service and commitment; and mental health awareness initiatives at Centre Sociaux Loyola in Togo.

We also bring you a story from Zimbabwe, where the Jesuit Youth Office, in collaboration with the National Movement of Catholic Students (NMCS) at the University of Zimbabwe, start a journey of conversation on caring for our common home in the spirit of Laudato Si.

As part of our AJAN@25 celebrations, we also bring you reflections from Saint John Paul II in Sierra Leone and Centre Arrupe Madagascar, offering insights into our shared journey and the continuing impact of AJAN’s mission across Africa.

Let us reflect on these stories, may we be inspired to continue walking together, listening to young people, protecting the vulnerable and investing in a future where every girl and every young person can flourish.

Por, Mr. Dennis Owuoche,

Responsável de Comunicações, AJAN