Since 2019 the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) set 4 Universal preferences (UAP) to guide their actions and ministry in the next 10 years. Reaching out to the most vulnerable in our society is one of them.

Jesuits work for reconciliation and justice: reconciliation with the self, with God, and others. This reconciliation means that nobody is forgotten. AJAN’s ministry to prisons is also guided by this universal preference: Walking with the excluded: walking with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.

AJAN is grateful to the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar -The leadership, Jesuits, and collaborators- for support that enabled AJAN to reach out to prisoners over the Christmas holidays in 2021 in our little way. In reaching out to the prison fraternity encouraged by the realization brought about by the Ignatian year, where Jesuits and collaborators continue to work to enable all people we engage with -including prisoners- to see all things new in Christ, to experience God’s mercy and love.

In December 2021, AJAN embraced the spirit of Christmas as we set out to share a few things with the prison fraternity in Nairobi, Kenya. The prison establishments which AJAN director Fr. Matambura Ismael visited are Kamae Girls Borstal Institution (which works to reform young girls), Youth Correctional and Training Centre -YCTC (where young boys are incarcerated), Kamiti Medium Prison, Industrial area Prison, and the Langat’a Women Prison. The items donated at the various places included food and drinks, blankets as well as second-hand clothing donated by the JCAM secretariat (Jesuits and collaborators) and other well-wishers. The African Jesuit AIDS Network is in an ongoing partnership with the Catholic Prison Chaplaincy in Kenya which involves training for prisoners, catechists and warders in life skills, HIV and AIDS and more.

AJAN wishes all our partners, Jesuits, collaborators, and beneficiaries a successful Year 2022. Let us continue to be the ground soldier of Christ on the earth and make as much difference as e can in the lives of the vulnerable, especially the youth and the excluded.

To read more about the AJAN work within prisons in Kenya, visit the AJAN website {HERE}