On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Centre de Recherche d’Étude et de Créativité (CREC), under the leadership of Fr. Eugène GOUSSIKINDEY, SJ, hosted a modest award ceremony. The event aimed to honor and present certificates of recognition to the exceptional winners of the 2024 AHAPPY Youth Storytelling Contest, which took place from August 1 to November 30, 2024.

The AHAPPY (AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Program for Youth) Storytelling Contest was launched to encourage young people to share compelling stories that inspire change in their communities. With the theme “Be Inspired and Inspire!”. After the competition’s call for participation, CREC selected the two best productions that strictly adhered to the competition’s conditions and standards as outlined in the contest guidelines prepared by AJAN. The selected visual productions included the videos “Eau si on savait” by the Harmonie group and “Mes parents, modèles de couple” by the Sketch Perform group. These two videos secured first and second place, respectively, in the local competition.

After the local phase, which ran from August to October 2024, the two winning productions received encouragement prizes from AJAN through its partner, CREC. Following the jury’s evaluation, “Eau si on savait” by the Harmonie group, presented by CREC Benin, secured second place in the international competition.

Thus, the ceremony aimed to reward the Harmonie group for their second-place achievement in the international competition. It also marked the conclusion of a remarkable journey while setting the stage for preparations for the next edition, scheduled for 2025.The award ceremony at CREC marked not only the celebration of the Harmonie group’s international success but also the conclusion of an inspiring journey.

Winners received certificates and financial prizes from AJAN in recognition of their achievements. Furthermore, the top dramatized skits, including “Eau si on savait”, will be adapted and used as educational resources for the AHAPPY program, amplifying their impact beyond the competition.

As preparations begin for the 2025 AHAPPY Youth Storytelling Contest, AJAN remains committed to fostering youth empowerment, resilience, and social responsibility across Africa. This initiative continues to provide a platform for young people to raise awareness, inspire their peers, and contribute to building a healthier and more compassionate society.

By, Tsague Cyrille, SJ.,

Centre de Recherche d’Étude et de Créativité (CREC)