[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”History” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||2vw||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#FFBA5A” divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”80px” height=”3px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” make_fullwidth__hover=”off” make_fullwidth__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal” allow_player_pause__hover=”off” allow_player_pause__hover_enabled=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover=”on” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||” box_shadow_style__hover=”none” box_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” box_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” filter_hue_rotate__hover=”0deg” filter_hue_rotate__hover_enabled=”0deg” filter_saturate__hover=”100%” filter_saturate__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_brightness__hover=”100%” filter_brightness__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_contrast__hover=”100%” filter_contrast__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_invert__hover=”0%” filter_invert__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_sepia__hover=”0%” filter_sepia__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_blur__hover=”0px” filter_blur__hover_enabled=”0px” mix_blend_mode__hover=”normal” mix_blend_mode__hover_enabled=”normal” animation_style__hover=”none” animation_style__hover_enabled=”none” animation_repeat__hover=”once” animation_repeat__hover_enabled=”once” animation_direction__hover=”center” animation_direction__hover_enabled=”center” animation_duration__hover=”1000ms” animation_duration__hover_enabled=”1000ms” animation_delay__hover=”0ms” animation_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” animation_intensity_slide__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_slide__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_starting_opacity__hover=”0%” animation_starting_opacity__hover_enabled=”0%” animation_speed_curve__hover=”ease-in-out” animation_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease-in-out” hover_transition_duration__hover=”300ms” hover_transition_duration__hover_enabled=”300ms” hover_transition_delay__hover=”0ms” hover_transition_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover=”ease” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease” background_color_gradient_stops__hover=”#2b87da 0%|#29c4a9 100%”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AFJN-art.png” alt=”Collage of images in the shape of the African continent. The images are all from AFJN.” title_text=”AFJN art” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” max_height=”440px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_2_font=”||||||||” text_font_size_tablet=”14px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
As the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) commemorates its fortieth anniversary, the organization\u2019s leaders emphasize its remarkable journey of adaptation and resilience since its inception. Current executive director Steven Nabieu Rogers underlines the importance of AFJN\u2019s ability to evolve and thrive over the years.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1983, AFJN was initially driven by the concerns of white missionaries (including Comboni Missionaries) who had served in Africa and sought to convey their insights to Washington, D.C.\u2019s decision-makers. Today, the organization\u2019s leadership is African-led, with a revised mission that places significant emphasis on empowering Africans to engage in advocacy within their communities, complementing their established lobbying efforts in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n
A pivotal moment in AFJN\u2019s history occurred in 2012 under the leadership of Dominican Fr. Aniedi Okure, who served as executive director from 2011 to 2020. Fr. Okure proposed a significant shift in the organization\u2019s approach, advocating for a strategy that would train Africans in advocacy, enabling them to hold their governments accountable. The board embraced this innovative direction, recognizing the potential for enhanced effectiveness and locally driven change.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sr. Bernadette Eyewan Okure, of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, coordinates AFJN in Nigeria. She shared with NCR the impact of the organization\u2019s grassroots advocacy. \u201cThey were shocked to see sisters, religious women from so many\u00a0 congregations collaborating, protesting,\u201d she said. \u201cFrom there, we began to . . . emphasize advocacy more than charity. Charity is good,\u201d she said, \u201cbut we have to change rules and policies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t say we are going to help them, but that we are helping each other. If we help a community to become better, to relate better, to protect the rights of their children, then that affects us,\u201d Sr. Bernadette said. \u201cIn our coalition, in our collaboration, we are helping the work of God, the kingdom of God to grow, to expand.\u201d<\/p>\n
AFJN\u2019s ongoing commitment to adaptability and the empowerment of African voices demonstrates its enduring relevance and impact, ensuring a bright future for this influential Catholic pan-African advocacy network.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Donations” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#151f33″ custom_padding=”0vw||0vw||true|” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal” allow_player_pause__hover=”off” allow_player_pause__hover_enabled=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover=”on” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover_enabled=”on” inner_shadow__hover=”off” inner_shadow__hover_enabled=”off” make_fullwidth__hover=”off” make_fullwidth__hover_enabled=”off” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||” box_shadow_style__hover=”none” box_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” box_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” max_width__hover=”100%” max_width__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_hue_rotate__hover=”0deg” filter_hue_rotate__hover_enabled=”0deg” filter_saturate__hover=”100%” filter_saturate__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_brightness__hover=”100%” filter_brightness__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_contrast__hover=”100%” filter_contrast__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_invert__hover=”0%” filter_invert__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_sepia__hover=”0%” filter_sepia__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_blur__hover=”0px” filter_blur__hover_enabled=”0px” mix_blend_mode__hover=”normal” mix_blend_mode__hover_enabled=”normal” animation_style__hover=”none” animation_style__hover_enabled=”none” animation_repeat__hover=”once” animation_repeat__hover_enabled=”once” animation_direction__hover=”center” animation_direction__hover_enabled=”center” animation_duration__hover=”1000ms” animation_duration__hover_enabled=”1000ms” animation_delay__hover=”0ms” animation_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” animation_intensity_slide__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_slide__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_starting_opacity__hover=”0%” animation_starting_opacity__hover_enabled=”0%” animation_speed_curve__hover=”ease-in-out” animation_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease-in-out” hover_transition_duration__hover=”300ms” hover_transition_duration__hover_enabled=”300ms” hover_transition_delay__hover=”0ms” hover_transition_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover=”ease” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease” background_color_gradient_stops__hover=”#2b87da 0%|#29c4a9 100%”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Noto Serif||||||||” header_2_font_size=”40px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”800px” link_option_url=”https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/latest-news\/” text_font_size_tablet=”14px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#FFBA5A” divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”80px” height=”3px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/latest-news\/” button_text=”Latest News” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_bg_color=”#55677f” button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” button_border_radius=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”4px” button_font=”Source Sans Pro|700||on|||||” button_icon=”$||divi||400″ background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”55px||21px|||” custom_padding=”12px|30px|12px|30px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) commemorates its fortieth anniversary, the organization\u2019s leaders emphasize its remarkable journey of adaptation and resilience since its inception. Current executive director Steven […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1080","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[172],"class_list":["post-11482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-afjn"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AFJN-art.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11482"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11487,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11482\/revisions\/11487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/combonimissionaries.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}