2025 Symposium
17 – 20 November | Desmond Tutu Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
No posting to social media
Please respect the security and privacy of our attendees
Welcome to the
AriseAfrica Symposium!
House Rules
Practical arrangements
Questions
Join the Signal chat to ask a question. We will prioritize Questions during the session at the end of the day, or get panelists to answer afterwards
Schedule
Monday
17 November 2025
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Check-in and Registration |
|---|---|
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 | Welcome |
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:30 | Recap: Church & violence |
| 18:30 | Dinner |
Tuesday
18 November 2025
| 07:00-08:30 | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| 08:30-09:00 | Worship & Devotions |
| 09:00-10:30 | Recap: FORB & Our calling – Dagne & André
|
| 10:30-11:00 | Break |
| 11:00-12:30 | Interactive: Response – Dagne & Tiffany
|
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 | Advocacy Intro – Dagne & Tiffany
|
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:30 | Advocacy Intro – Dagne & Tiffany
|
| 18:00-19:00 | Dinner |
| 19:00-20:30 | Guided devotions – Dr Nancy Nyaga
|
Wednesday
19 November 2025
| 07:00-08:30 | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| 08:30-09:00 | Worship & Devotions |
| 09:00-10:30 | Group work – Intro – SME & support people
|
| 10:30-11:00 | Break |
| 11:00-12:30 | Group work – Analyses – SME & support people
|
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 | Group work – Action planning
|
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:30 | Group work – Action planning
|
| 18:00-19:00 | Dinner |
| 19:00-20:00 | Press conference 1 & interviewing |
Thursday
20 November 2025
| 07:00-08:30 | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| 08:30-09:00 | Worship & Devotions |
| 09:00-10:30 | Feedback
|
| 10:30-11:00 | Break |
| 11:00-12:30 | Feedback
|
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00-15:30 | Finalize plans, next steps – Megan Recommended media training – Megan
|
| 15:30-16:00 | Break |
| 16:00-17:30 | Recommended media training – Megan
|
| 17:30-18:00 | Press conference 2 |
| 18:00-19:00 | Dinner |
| 19:00-20:30 | Prayer event
|
Speaker Profiles
Jo N | Illia | Sally | Kati | Dagnachew | Tiffany Barrons | Dr. Nancy Nyaga | André Kangni Afanou | Jane | Megan
Jo N
Head of External Engagement
ServAfricaJo N
As the head of external engagement, Jo leads a team of frontline workers to grow support and advocacy for the persecuted Church in SSA. Jo has more than 2 decades’ experience in persecution-related research, communications, program design and advocacy.
She grew up in South Africa but currently lives in Australia where she continues to speak about Christian persecution and ministry to the affected.
Jo is wife to Gerhard, the step-mom of two boys, and the grandmother of two girls.
Illia
Snr Analyst for FORB in SSA
ServAfricaIllia
Illia is a Snr Analyst for FORB in SSA and is a published writer, radio journalist and researcher exploring human rights issues and news events across Africa.
Born and bred in Niger, Illia has lived across West Africa and Europe for work and study. Now residing in the UK, he regularly travels to Africa and elsewhere to serve the Persecuted Church. He has had remarkable opportunities to speak for the persecuted Church to African and global audiences, both Christian and secular, as well as politicians, incl. the European parliament.
Sally
Communications Expert
ServAfricaSally
Sally lives in Central Africa. As communications expert she reports on incidents of persecution affecting Christians across Sub Saharan Africa. She is responsible for telling the story of the persecuted church with accuracy and compassion. She counts among the frontline workers who interfaces most regularly with persecuted Christians – often as a first responder. She regularly advises about and reports on emergency and other responses.
Kati
Chief Programs Officer
ServAfricaKati
Kati serves as the Chief Programs Officer at an international NGO. She has nearly 30 years of leadership experience, spanning two global NGOs, a parachurch organization, and a commercial manufacturing company. Her academic qualifications include an MSc in Development Management, an MSc in Environmental Studies and an BSc in Physics.
Kati grew up in communist Albania as an atheist, (like her parents). She became a Christians through the faithful prayers of her grandmother – a secret believer – and the influence of a friend in her last year of university. Her parents later also became Christians. Kati is married to Jorgo and they have two children.
Dagnachew
Regional Advocacy Manager
ServAfricaDagnachew
Dagne working on issues of Freedom of Religion or Belief across Sub-Saharan Africa. He holds a master’s degrees in both Law & Comparative Local Development, has served as a lecturer in 3 Universities and has practiced law for several years.
He served as director of Advocates Ethiopia, the Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship, and currently serves as board member. He also serves on the board of the Anglican Church in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center.
Dagnachew is married and the father of three.
Tiffany Barrons
Global Advocacy Director
ServAfricaTiffany Barrons
Tiffany Barrans, Global Advocacy Director at Open Doors International, is an international human rights attorney committed to defending religious freedom. Based in England, she equips the Church to stand against persecution, empowering believers to advocate and be salt and light as they seek justice for those who suffer for Christ.
Dr. Nancy Nyaga
Doctor of Psychology
ServAfricaDr. Nancy Nyaga
Dr. Nancy Nyaga holds a Doctor of Psychology Degree (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology as well as a Master of Arts degree (MA) in Counseling Psychology from United States International University Africa (USIU-A). In addition to her formal education, she is a certified life coach.
With more than 20 years of experience Dr. Nancy has dedicated over 20,000 hours to psychotherapy practice. Her extensive background has enabled her to develop significant expertise in addressing a broad array of clinical and mental health issues for her clients. Dr. Nancy’s is here because of her skills in providing support to individuals dealing with loss and grief, trauma, habits, and addictions. Her comprehensive approach ensures that clients receive effective care tailored to their specific needs. Throughout her career, Dr. Nancy has empowered thousands of individuals and families, as well as organizations, to enhance their mental health awareness. She equips her clients with effective strategies to manage mental health challenges, cope positively, and ultimately lead productive and flourishing lives.
In 2007, Dr. Nancy Nyaga established Blossom-Out Consultants , among its many other endeavours also playing a pivotal role in promoting mental health awareness within the community and beyond. She has delivered numerous mental health talks and educational sessions through various platforms, including local media outlets such as television and radio. Her outreach also extends to institutions of learning and corporate organizations, where she shares her expertise and raises awareness about mental health challenges and solutions.
As a committed born-again Christian, Dr. Nancy actively advances mental health advocacy within faith-based settings. She frequently addresses congregations through sermons and public speaking engagements in churches, emphasizing the importance of mental health care and awareness in spiritual communities. On a personal note, Dr. Nancy is married and, together with her husband, is blessed with three children.
André Kangni Afanou
Human Rights Advocate & Civil Society Leader
ServAfricaAndré Kangni Afanou
André Kangni Afanou is a leading figure of Togolese civil society, a lawyer, and a passionate trainer on leadership and personal development. With a Master’s degree in Business Law and a DEA in Environmental Law and Policy, he has been a committed human rights defender for over 20 years.
As President of the Centre de Formation et de Documentation sur les Droits de l’Homme (CDFDH-Togo), he works tirelessly for justice, dignity, and freedom. He teaches Negotiation and Advocacy at the University of Kara and Human Rights in private higher education, mentoring a new generation of engaged leaders through initiatives such as L’Académie de l’Influence. André also serves as the Africa Regional Coordinator for the Center for Civil and Political Center ( based in Geneva Switzerland), is an Ashoka Fellow 2024.
Based in Togo, he frequently collaborates with African and global institutions to advance human rights and civic leadership across the continent.
Jane
Senior Advocacy Officer
ServAfricaJane
Jane is a Senior Advocacy Officer with extensive experience in advocacy, policy, communications and research, and a current focus on serving and advocating for the Persecuted Church in sub-Saharan Africa. Her areas of expertise include developing and executing advocacy strategies, influencing and building relationships with political stakeholders, and training others to advocate.
Jane lives in the UK, has travelled extensively for work – including to several countries in Africa – and is passionate about the pursuit of justice.
Megan
Human Rights Advocate
ServAfricaMegan
Megan has spent five years in regional journalism in the UK working for online and print newspapers.
Over the last five years she has been working as a press officer as a human rights advocate for a charity which campaigns on behalf of persecuted Christians all around the world.
Break the silence
Add your voice to the petition today
90%
Out of every 10 Christians murdered for their faith across the world, nine are killed in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Yet, almost no one is talking about it.
Murder, torture and kidnapping are an everyday threat. Extremists want to destroy the church and are using unthinkable violence. The very survival of the church is at risk – unless we act.
The Arise Africa Petition calls upon the global community to ensure that Christians and other vulnerable individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa are treated with dignity and respect.
Number of signatures so far:
[gravityforms id=”1″ action=”meter” field=”21″ goal=”200000″ count_label=”Signatures %d” goal_label=”Goal %d”]