By Riley DeSarbo
AFJN 2026 Summer Intern
Tuesday June 2 marked the second annual day of service at Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN). Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, AFJN Executive Director, introduced the idea in 2025 as a means for AFJN members to give back to the local community. “We so often interact with public officials in formal settings, and by connecting like this with our community we are doing work reminiscent of AFJN activities on the African continent” said Dr. Rogers, emphasizing the importance of this type of interaction. He also expressed his desire to expand the Day of Service in coming years to include the wider AFJN community thus creating opportunities to engage in the service with AFJN for those unable to travel to Africa. Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Rogers observed that wherever there is need, there is also generosity. His call to “get more by giving back” resonated deeply, as the team experienced its impact firsthand during the Day of Service.
This year, AFJN was blessed to have our summer interns join us at the Capital Area Food Bank’s Mobile Market at the Catholic Charities Center in Silver Spring, MD; making this the first time interns joined in our Day of Service! For some interns, this was the very first opportunity of meeting AFJN staff face-to-face, already engaged in immersing themselves in our common mission. AFJN helped distribute fresh produce, dairy, and dry goods to members of the Montgomery County Maryland region. We also assisted in maintaining a clean and safe environment by moving and disposing of crates, pallets, and boxes.
Coming from universities across the country, two interns found the opportunity to interact with the local community especially meaningful. Makelah Arzu-Portrer, AFJN Summer Intern and rising junior from the University of Kentucky, expressed that she “loved being able to work with a diverse community. It set the tone for my internship and allowed me to understand what working with AFJN is like.” Aiden O’Connell, a rising senior from Lafayette College, said that “The day of service allowed me to establish unique connections with the AFJN staff. Interacting with them in a hands-on setting allowed me to better understand our mission and what I want to accomplish here.” The opportunity to devote a day to service was a welcome change for the interns, many of whom have been swept up in cross-country travel to Washington DC and academic orientation for their respective programs.
By participating in the Mobile Market, AFJN was able to embody our foundation of Catholic Social Teaching while introducing our cohort of interns to the joys of service and community, culminating in a rewarding experience to kickstart the summer 2026 program!
Learn more about AFJN’s 2026 Summer Interns here: https://afjn.org/2026-summer-interns/.
(The Day of Service began with a short visit to Brookside Gardens (a botanical garden located in Wheaton Regional Park).
