Who We Are

Our Founder

Jean Narcisse Djaha is the founder of The Second Chance USA. He immigrated to the USA a few years ago to realize his American Dream as we call it. Seeking to leave a lifelong footprint on American soil, he set on a mission to help formerly incarcerated individuals rediscover their God-given purpose and positively contribute to America's nation-building.

Our Story

Second Chance USA is the continuation of Nouvelle Force, a project he initiated in 2013 to help people facing life challenges get back on their feet through intellectual and material resources. In 2025, he was inspired by the profound impact of Wakeup Café, a similar project based in France led by Clothile Gilbert and aided by Dr. Serge Besanger, his PhD Dissertation Director.

He faced life challenges in America and ended up at the Union Ministries to receive spiritual support and redemption. Quickly, he joined a class administered by Reverend Washington and Pastor Terry. The impact of this mentorship and coaching ignited in him the burning desire to bring this project back to life.

At first, The Second Chance USA's main focus was on people capacity building and reinvention, but slowly, the idea grew and was able to focus on social justice and change. Today, Jean is working with esteemed transformational leaders to help formerly incarcerated young people rebuild their lives, reintegrate into society, and become productive forces for their communities.

The Second Chance USA, a project of the African Council on Foreign Relations, is a reinvention and capacity-building hub for formerly incarcerated individuals and young people across America. We offer them mentorship and coaching to rebuild their lives, reintegrate into society, and realize their God-given purpose in life. We do this through capacity development, acts of kindness, compassion, hope, and reinforcement. All this through our six-month development plan.

Vision

Transform and build lives through a deep process of reinvention

Mission

Our mission is to help current and formerly imprisoned individuals and young people rebuild their lives, reintegrate into society, and realize their God-given purpose in life.

Values

Hope, Integrity, Compassion, and Service

Our Founder

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Qualified volunteers

We are blessed to have hundreds of leaders who volunteer their time to serve this great cause

People impacted

In 2025 alone, we have successfully impacted the lives over 100 individuals worldwide.

USA, Africa, and France

We have served people across America, Africa, and France

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Why support us?

Global experience

We have worked with people across three continents.

We believe in the change and success of formerly incarcerated people. We also believe in their ability and inner power to become a force for good. We want to help them rebuild themselves and become a new version of themselves, regardless of their present or past.

From Values to Value

Our motto is to provide only the highest quality to those who serve, no matter the circumstances.

Favorable results

Each project we work on is tailored to the particular people's exact needs, not the other way around.

High standards

We take data seriously, meaning that we only deliver work that we can be proud of.

Some people we have transformed