Our Story

The inspiration for Africa Youth-Now Foundation and its projects comes from the incredibly talented young people we have encountered in our different lines of work and ministry. What drives us, especially, is the passion to meet the needs of young people in Africa and to share in their deepest longing to be truly happy – to find God, to make something of themselves and to bring about a desired change in their families and communities.

We have seen, first hand, the joy on the faces of young people in Africa when they have received the needed support to successfully complete their education, ensure the education of their children or simply to put food on the table. As individuals, we have contributed to works like these in different ways. One of us, Rev. Fr. Anthony Adawu, for instance, has supported the education of 22 people from limited personal resources for over fifteen years. Some of these have completed university education and are gainfully employed. Others are currently in school. The change we see in these young people motivates us to expand our efforts to reach more people.

The needs and changes we see are not only at the material level. Today more than ever, young people seek the truth. In a world of information overload, skepticism and outright indifference, young people seek the truth that guides their lives. They look for the good that opens their hearts to helping those in need. This is the reason behind the intellectual, spiritual and moral components of our efforts.

Our work at Africa Youth-Now Foundation also draws inspiration from the work of the Christian tradition and the sustained focus on young people. The Catholic Church, for instance, has a long tradition of forming youth in faith and for life, through her educational institutions and youth ministries. We look especially to the work of our recent Holy Fathers – Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis – for their ardent love for young people. We heed their call to the Church to renew and intensify her effort in caring for young people and in encouraging their participation in the life of the Church and in society.

Above all, we follow the example of Christ, who placed a child in the midst of his disciples, encouraged them to receive the child (the young) as they would receive him, and to have a child-like disposition if they wanted to inherit the Kingdom of God. Africa Youth-Now Foundation, therefore, is a participation in the mission of Christ toward the young in our midst. We proceed with the following in mind:

Mercy is our Hope - Truth is our Light - Love is our Life