ASEC News & Reflections

ASEC is serving Catholic Sisters in 10 sub-Saharan African countries, providing access to educational opportunities. There is much to celebrate regarding the work of ASEC and the impact of Sisters who are benefiting from our programs.

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HESA graduates and ASEC staff celebrate with a cake-cutting ceremony at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in South Sudan.

Graduation to Action - HESA Supported Sisters Driving Lasting Change

2 days ago: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe] Across Africa, sisters reached a major milestone as they completed their studies through ASEC’s Higher Education for Sisters in Africa program. Graduating from colleges and universities, many earned honors and are now putting their education into action as leaders in their communities.

Left to Right: Staff members cut cake in celebration of their service to ASEC for over 10 years; Sr. Verla Elbira, SST, teaches in Cameroon; Service Learning participant Madilyn Grose visits Cottolengo Home in Kenya.

Advancing ASEC’s Mission

last month: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] This story highlights how ASEC’s mission continues to grow globally through trainings, celebrations, cross-cultural exchanges, and the collective impact of sisters whose education strengthens communities across Africa.

Catholic sisters in Tanzania join ASEC staff and partners to cut a Jubilee cake during the first celebration of ASEC’s 25th Anniversary in Morogoro.

Celebrating 25 Years of Impact: ASEC’s Silver Jubilee Across Two Continents

5 months ago: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] ASEC’s 25th anniversary year united SLDI graduations across Africa and a jubilee gala in the United States, celebrating a global community committed to educating Catholic sisters for transformative ministry.

Left to right: Scholarship Orientation entertainment in Tanzania, Bigwa Secondary School graduation in Tanzania, first Scholarship graduates in Cameroon.

Scholarship 2024 Year in Review

more than a year ago.: [Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe] The ASEC Scholarship Program empowers Catholic Sisters across nine countries with access to education, enabling them to better serve their congregations and communities, with over 890 scholarships awarded since 2012.

Sr. Caroline Nanyi Acha, SST, ASLA recipient in Cameroon.

Investing in ASEC Alumnae Projects Through ASLA

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Lesotho, Uganda] African Sisters: Leaders In Action (ASLA) investment in alumnae projects has allowed ASEC Alumnae Sr. Caroline Nanyi Acha, SST, Sr. Sophia Agnes Asiimwe, MSMMC, and Sr. Mathabo Jacintha Sefali, SCIM to make an impact in their communities.

ASEC sister Sr. Honorine with pupils during cooking practicals in Cameroon

Going where the need is greatest, exemplifying hard work, and solving social issues: 5 things we can learn from ASEC sisters

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:5

Sisters Odette and Cecilia exploring the technology of the phone at an SLDI workshop in Cameroon, 2019.

Using Technology to Strengthen Ministries

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] Last spring, the New York Times published an article about how women religious are sharing their experiences through social media platforms, like TikTok. In this article we reflect on the recent trends and explain how our sisters are learning to utilize technology.

COVID-19 Case Study Published in Review of Religious Research

COVID-19 Case Study Published in Review of Religious Research

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] At ASEC we understood clearly that the pandemic would mean some serious changes for us and our goals. We also understood that COVID-19 may make our pending goals to transform education in Africa even that much more needed. As a research organization, we did what we do – research.

ASEC Staff from Africa and the United States joined for staff training from March 1-4, 2022

Staff Training Focuses on Social Entrepreneurship

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] “The work you do on a daily basis is strengthening the capacity of the sisters you serve.” - Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, Ph.D.

Sr. M. Tryphina Burchard, STH, ASEC Country Director (center), with two ASEC scholarship recipients during the 2021 Scholarship program orientation workshop in Tanzania.

Scholarship Program 2021: Bridging the Gap to Higher Education for Sisters in Africa

more than a year ago.: [Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia] A year in review of ASEC's Scholarship Program for women religious in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana, Kenya and Lesotho. Read about the program growth, celebrations and achievements as 2021 comes to an end.

HESA best-in-class graduates from Veritas University in Nigeria at the ASEC graduation celebration (2021).

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) Program, 2021 Year in Review

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] A year in review of the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program. Read HESA news, graduation announcements, student achievements and program growth.

Sr. Judith Atukwatse, OLGC, used the skills she learned in SLDI to start a vegetable and poultry project for her community in Uganda.

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) Program, 2021 Year in Review

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] A year in review of the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program. Read about milestones, news and experiences from 2021.

The Virtual SLDI Partners Workshop took place from June 15-17, 2021, with attendees logging in from the USA and the 10 African countries ASEC serves.

ASEC Holds SLDI Virtual Partners Workshop In Preparation For Phase VI of the Program

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] A three-day virtual workshop enabled staff and partners to collaboratively prepare for Phase VI of ASEC’s largest program.

Clockwise, from top left: Alumnae workshop in Kenya (Feb. 2020). Sr. Victoria Ajio, MSBVM, attending a South Sudan SLDI Finance workshop. Sisters in Cameroon receive laptops during an Administration workshop. Tanzanian sisters receive books at a 2020 Administration workshop.

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) Program, 2020 Year in Review

more than a year ago.: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] A year in review of the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program. Read about milestones, news and experiences from 2020 as SLDI Phase V begins.

Sr. Augustina (center) with students of Mazenod High School in Maseru, Lesotho.

Girls' High School in Lesotho Thrives Under Sister's Stewardship

more than a year ago.: [Lesotho] “[SLDI] has helped me a great deal because I couldn't stand in front of different stakeholders and, you know, address them on issues. ASEC gave me the courage and stance to say, ‘Yeah this is what has to be done.’ For that, I’m grateful.”

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