Mission
The Africa Faith and Justice Network’s Women Empowerment Project aims at assisting African Women religious in shaping a new vision of their role in society by working to change the structures that keep people in poverty and deprive them of their dignity as God’s children. The project builds and strengthens a coalition of African Women Religious at the local, regional, and continental levels to work for social justice and bring about needed change.
Women Empowerment Video Playlist
In several countries, our partners, sisters and youth who have participated and benefited from our advocacy skills trainings workshops, have created testimonial videos about what this project and our mentorship means to them. Several of the videos are included in the below playlist. The playlist also includes videos produced by the youth who have worked with the sisters on educational and advocacy campaigns addressing issues that impact them such as increased instances of youth violence ahead of elections.
Focus Countries
As of 2022, AFJN’s Women’s Empowerment Project has partnered with women religious in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The project focuses on educating the local people about the realities of the social injustices facing them, grounding them in Catholic social teaching, and empowering them with the skills and tools needed to advocate for structural change. Some of the key theme are land grabbing, domestic and gender based violence, child labor, human trafficking, domestic servitude, the impact of the COVID pandemic on girls education, transparency and accountability, etc.
Latest News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 25, 2021 Washington DC - On February 23, 2021, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria issued We Must Pull back from the Brink of Collapse, a letter to the “People of Goodwill in Nigeria.” The Bishops acknowledged the ongoing crisis...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 17, 2021 Washington DC - The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) voted to appoint Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, from Nigeria, as Director-General beginning March 1, 2021. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is both the first...
On January 19, 2021, the work of the Africa Faith and Justice Network was in Valentine Iwenwanne's article "Christians in Nigeria keep the faith amidst lingering insurgency and persecution" featured in Catholic Herald. Read the full article here:...
By Iman MekonenEdited by Ntama Bahati Out of the 193 total United Nations (UN) Member states, 54 represent African countries. Only four women representing their own countries have addressed its General Assembly. This is an important forum for a head of state to not...
On August 11, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network's co-sponsored event on AGRA was featured in Agbonkhese Oboh's article "HOMEF, AFJN, others fault AGRA, seek alternative for agric in Africa" featured in Vanguard. Read more at:...
Watch the video: AGRA’s Failed Promises – Liberating our Agriculture https://www.facebook.com/HealthEarth/videos/593178444725692/ A recently released report, "False Promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)," by a coalition of German and African...
On August 3, 2020, the work of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in Nigeria was featured in America Magazine. In the article "The Catholic Church’s fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria" Patrick Egwu talks about the increased need for the...
On August 3, 2020, the Africa Faith and Justice Network and Africa Faith and Justice Network - Nigeria work was featured in Patrick Egwu's article "The Catholic Church’s fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria" featured in America Magazine. Read the full...
By Chazmine A. Moore, Research Intern 31 July 2020 Inspired by the African Proverb, on June 22nd and 23rd, Nigerian youth gathered online to unite in an effort to combat sexual violence. The two-day workshop, Voices for Change, sponsored by the Africa Faith and...
Democratic Republic of the Congo
AFJN’s Women’s Empowerment Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) timeline was modified due to the COVID Pandemic. The original 2020 in-person events kicking-off our partnership with the sisters in the DRC was postponed until 2022. However, outreach to rural communities on the realities of human trafficking has already has begun with a sister who had been trained at on of AFJN’s previous workshops in another country.
Timeline:
- April 12, 2021 (Uganda/Democratic Republic of the Congo border)
Youth Awareness workshop - April 15, 2021 (several rural communities in Intenga, DRC)
Grassroots education and empowerment human trafficking - 2022 (Kinshasa, DRC)
Workshop on the Environment for sisters in partnership with the Dominican Office for Justice and Peace (postponed in 2020)
Ghana
AFJN Women’s Empowement Project in Ghana began in 2017. Sisters who have attended our empowerment workshops have created the AFJN-Ghana Chapter where they collaborate to continue advocacy and outreach beyond the events hosted by AFJN.
Timeline:
- May 13-16, 2017 (Cape Coast, Ghana)
Workshop for Major Superiors - October 7-12, 2017 (Obuasi and Kumasi, Ghana)
Training of Sisters in Obuasi on the realities of the “kayayei” in the community follow with advocacy visits in Kumasi. - May 15-20, 2018 (Tamale, Northern Ghana)
Sisters did outreach and advocacy about the Kayayei in northern Ghana. - June 2020 (Ghana/Nigeria online workshop)
“Youth for Change” online workshops for youth in Ghana and Nigeria - May 22-28, 2021 (Battor-Dzodze, Apolonia, Fodwoku, Atebubu-Garadima, Brewaniase, Ghana)
Outreach and advocacy event across the region on land grabbing, human trafficking, child labor, and corruption (in conjunction with AFJN’s ACT Project). The group educated stakeholders, locals, and high school students and staff.
Nigeria
AFJN Women’s Empowment Project has been active in Nigeria since 2016. Since then, the sisters have created AFJN-Nigeria, a nonprofit organization recognized by the government, and are working to educate, empower, and partner with the youth on campaigns that impact their lives.
Timeline:
- May 26-27, 2016 (Abuja, Nigeria)
Feasiblity Workshop with Sisters - November 22-27, 2016 (Abuja, Nigeria)
Outreach and Advocacy Skills Training Workshop for religoius sisters with advocacy visit to the National Assembly and National Police Office - February 14-17, 2017 (Abuja, Nigeria)
Steering Committee Meeting with decision to file for legal nonprofit status as AFJN in Nigeria (AFJN-Nigeria Chapter) and focus campaign was human trafficking in Edo State, Nigeria - April 21-28, 2017 (Edo State, Nigeria) Community Engagement with advocacy activities on human trafficking in Edo State
- November 22, 2017 – Dec 1, 2017 (Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria)
Seven Day Anti-trafficking Campaign with several communities. Oba of Benin acted to stop human trafficking in his kingdom, after receiveing the advocacy letter - June 17-23, 2018 (Benin City, Nigeria)
Advocacy events and sensitization in high schools - January 19-21, 2018 (Lagos, Nigeria)
Workshop for Major Superiors of Women Religious Congregations in Nigeria - April 14, 2018 (Nigeria)
National Day of Prayer Against Bloodshed in Nigeria and other forms of violence event - June 17-23 2018 (Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria) Grassroots advocacy events on human trafficking in rural communities and in Benin City
- January 27-February 1, 2019 (Enugu, Nigeria)
Practical Advocacy Training Workshop for sisters - November 3- 8, 2019 (Edo State, Nigeria)
Stakeholder Meetings and Advocacy events on human trafficking - Postponed – May 2020 (Enugu State, Nigeria)
Rights of the Child major events were postponed due to COVID Pandemic - June 2020 (Nigeria/Ghana online workshop)
“Youth for Change” online workshops for youth in Ghana and Nigeria - September 21-30, 2020 (Anambra State, Nigeria)
Advocacy Events of sisters and youth with government ministries - October 8-9, 2020 (Online, Jos, Nigeria)
“Christian Vocation to Justice Ministry” Workshops with Jos Conference of Women Religious - October 18, 2020 (Uyo, Nigeria) “Advocacy, A Christian Vocation” empowement workshop for sisters in preparation for regional workshops on human trafficicking
- November 19, 2020 (Nigeria) Workshop for staff at local Human Rights Office on sexual violence
- March 20 and 26 2021 (Kuje, Abuja, Nigeria)
Day of Awareness on Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence - April 16, 2021 (Aduku Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria)
Discussions with households on domestic violence and child trafficking - April 23, 2021 (Bayelsa, Nigeria) Outreach to students and staff at Community Secondary School Trofani on gender-based violence and trafficking
- April 24, 2021 (Bayelsa, Nigeria) Outreach to Federal Government College on the impact of gender-based violence and trafficking on indivudilas and community
- May 6, 2021 (Odi, Nigeria)
Outreach to students and staff - May 16, 2021 (Abari Community and Kaima, Nigeria)
Outreach to the Abari Community on family violence and trafficking and Kaima’s Catholic Women’s Organization on child abuse and trafficking - May 22, 2021 (Jos Province, Nigeria) “Youth Arise and Shine – Now is the Time” Youth Leadership Training Workshop, trafficking and child labor, gender based violence land grabbing
- July 8-17, 2021 (Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria) campaign to end trafficking with report on trafficking in the region
- July 12, 2021 (Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria)
Stakeholder meeting with pledge to end trafficking and youth education and training - July 30, 2021 (Bamishi, Abuja, Nigeria)
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons event - September 2021 (Online, Nigeria) “AFJN Nigeria Youth Video for Peace” and “Youth Week 2021” outreach
- October 2021 (Online, Nigeria)
Youth Video Campaign for Peace ahead of elections - May 17-19, 2022 (Jos, Nigeria) “Tackling Drug Use, Ritual Killings, and Cultism in Nigeria: Fashioning a Better Future with Our Youths”
- July 16-18, 2022 (Jos, Nigeria) “A Campaign Against Drug Abuse, Human Trafficking, and Early Marriage”
Tanzania
AFJN’s Women’s Empowment Project has been working in Tanzania since 2017.
Timeline:
- June 16-17, 2017 (Dar Salaam, Tanzania)
Workshop for Major Superiors of Women Religious to reflect on Gospel mandate and the Church’s call to act on behalf of justice - October 7-12, 2018 (Iringa, Tanzania) Workshop and Advocacy events where the sisters confronted the District Commissioner on the confiscation of water of the people of Mawimbi rural community
- Postponed March 21-26, 2020 advocacy workshop with sisters on human trafficking
- February 18, 2021 (Songea, Tanzania) “Youth for Change: A one day workshop in Songea Tanzania” land issues, mental emancipation, gender equality participants were featured on the radio
- June 19, 2021 (Songea, Tanzania) “Tanzanian Youths: Working together to End human trafficking” Songea Tanzania, Zoom and in-person workshop featured on the radio
- August 16-20, 2021 (Tanzania) “Witnessing to Our Faith in the Public Square” advocacy visits on issues of human trafficking. Additional events were held on Zoom with AFJN.
- September 10 and 11, 2021 (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Worskhop for staff and students followed by advocacy with local leaders. The workshop was broadcast live and featured on the radio.
Uganda
AFJN’s Women’s Empowement Project has been in Uganda since 2018.
Timeline:
- November 18-24, 2018 (Kampala, Uganda)
Advocacy Training Workshop for Uganda sisters and sisters invited from Burkina Faso, Zambia, NIgeria, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo - December 3 and 9 2018 (Kampala, Uganda)
Advocacy visit with the speaker of the house and other government agency - May 21, 2019 (Kampala, Uganda) Stakeholders meeting in Kampala on human trafficking
- September 22 – 26 2019 (Fort Portal, Uganda)
Practical advocacy training for the sisters and other religious in the area - September 30, 2019 (Kampala, Uganda)
Advocacy visit with the Mayor - Janurary 13, 2020 (Kabarole District, Uganda)
Advocacy meeting with District Officer to discuss issues of trafficking - February 8, 2020 (Kabarole District, Uganda)
Prayer event calling for the end of human trafficking - March 28, 2020 (Kampala, Uganda) Event postponed due to Covid
- April 18, 2020 (Kabarole District, Uganda)
Radio program outreach begins - April and May 2020 (Fort Portal Region, Uganda)
Radio Programs on Jubilee Radio on domestic violence and the impact of lockdown take place. There is also an 8-hr wkshop with stories of victium survivors of trafficking - September 1-2, 2020 (Kampala, Uganda) “Youth for Social Justice” workshop where sisters trained youth
- September and Octobver 2020, (Fort Portal, Kasese District, Uganda)
Advocacy Meetings for Survivors of Human Trafficking, Parents and Communtiy Leaders - September 30, 2020 (Hocodi, Uganda)
Outreach to community, families, and the Hocodi Head Office with female suvivors of trafficking - November 17, 2020 (Kasese District, Uganda)
Outreach to parents, government leaders, and youth with male survivors of trafficking - January 8, 2021 (Ibanda Parish, Kasese Diocese, Uganda)
Youth Sensitization - February 18 2021 (Kasese District, Uganda)
Human trafficking awareness raising for newly elected leaders - March 5, 2021 (Karangura Subcounty, Kabarole District, Uganda)
Human Trafficking awareness raising for newly elected leaders - April 12, 2021 (Uganda/Democratic Republic of the Congo border)
Youth Awareness workshop - April 19, 2021 (Kabarole District, Uganda)
Outreach to students and staff at Mountains of the Moon University on human trafficking - July and September 2021 (remote mentorship)
Planning for radio program for World Day against human trafficking, interfaith outreach and networking strategies - March 2022 (Kampala, Uganda) commissioned research on child education ahead of the April workshops
- April 26-30, 2022 (Kampala, Uganda) “Education and Decent Work For All”
Zambia
AFJN’s Women’s Empowement Project partnership in Zambia began in 2021.
Timeline:
- May 2021 (Online, Zambia)
“Advocacy as a Christian Calling” with the Executive Committee of the Zambian Conference of Women Religious - November 13, 2021 (Lusaka, Zambia)
Major Superiors in Lusaka followup meetings - November 14-16, 2021 (Lusaka, Zambia)
Advocacy training workshop for sisters