Mission Statement
The Africa Faith and Justice Network, inspired by the Gospel and informed by Catholic Social Teaching, educates and advocates for just relations with Africa.
Brief History of AFJN
Moved to action by their personal experiences in Africa, three Catholic missionary congregations founded the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in 1983 to transform United States mentality and policy towards Africa and her people. Since that time, membership has grown and remains committed in faith to advocate in Washington, DC for U.S. relations with Africa that foster justice and peace, and to educate the public across the United States.
Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, AFJN has engaged in policy analysis on issues such as hunger, conflict resolution, international debt, trade and food security. A newsletter was created early on, providing membership with difficult-to-obtain information on Africa in general and on African policy concerns. Periodically, publications were produced to explain the varied aspects of issues affecting Africa’s people.
The advent of the internet allowed for greater access to information about Africa and facilitated the dissemination of that information. It also provided AFJN with a means of organizing a larger group of people to do advocacy using email letters to members of Congress.
Today
AFJN continues its advocacy on Capitol Hill and
wherever policy is made that affects Africa. The bi-monthly newsletter and timely e-mail
updates keep the members abreast of the status of Africa-focused legislation,
explore various issues pertinent to the continent and her people, and inform
people of opportunities for public action.
Annual meetings gather members to reflect on a theme and to engage in
discussion with eminent Africans and others.
The Africa Faith and Justice Network is supported financially by institutional and individual members who feel called to advocate and mobilize in their communities and in the US capital. The staff in Washington provides information and analysis gathered from a number of sources and offers opportunities for advocacy and grassroots organizing. AFJN is intent on reflecting on policy from a faith perspective, in a spirit of solidarity with the people of Africa who have touched us by their lives and courage.
Our Christian faith tells us that we are all God’s children, connected to one another. It is this connection to the people of Africa, personal for some, spiritual for others, which drives the members of the Africa Faith and Justice Network. Our motivation to work for the transformation of American mentality and policy towards Africa comes from a deep respect for our brothers and sisters in Africa and the desire to walk with them in their quest for genuine justice and peace.
Globalization has made this connection multi-layered. Decisions made in Washington, DC affect people in Africa in a very direct manner. AFJN works to bring information to policy makers that will enable them to make decisions respecting the concerns of the people of Africa, especially the impoverished majority. For that, we are called at times to lobby members of Congress in Washington and in the districts. Other times it means writing letters, marching in the streets or organizing activities in schools and parishes. At all times it means praying for wisdom, strength and moral courage for those both in and out of power in our world.
Members of AFJN receive regular newsletters geared to inform and to stimulate reflection and action in solidarity with the people of Africa. The members also bring their own experience from Africa to the network and to the policy makers. The AFJN website offers updated information on our activities and on urgent African issues concerning human rights and justice. In addition, it suggests actions that members can take in the short and in the long term. Annual meetings of members are occasions to meet with like-minded concerned activists to discuss various topics in workshops and to interact with eminent speakers.
Your voice added to ours makes us all stronger. Become a member today and join us in education and advocacy for transformation of American mentality and policy towards Africa.
Follow this link to hear Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x., Executive Director of AFJN, discuss AFJN with Peter Quaranto on the Joe McLaughlin Show on Xaverian Radio.
