Chronology

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2021

June 15-17: ASEC Holds SLDI Virtual Partners Workshop In Preparation For Phase VI
A three-day virtual workshop enabled staff and partners to collaboratively prepare for Phase VI of ASEC’s largest program.

June: ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the Scholarship Program
ASEC’s Scholarship Program expands to Lesotho to fund scholarships for secondary school and certificate-level education for sisters.

April 20: ASEC Participates in Marywood University's Virtual Research Day
Marywood's Virtual Research Day provides ASEC the opportunity to increase awareness of our mission among university students, faculty, staff and local community.

April 15-17: ASEC CoHosts Charism, Spirituality, Mission and Ministry Webinar with CARA
Through collaboration, ASEC and CARA facilitated a 3-day virtual webinar on Charism, Spirituality, Mission and Ministry for the representatives of National Conferences/Associations of women religious in ASEC’s 10 African countries of operation.

January 23: First Graduation of HESA-Sponsored Students in Cameroon
The first group of HESA-sponsored sisters (7 undergraduates and 2 masters students) graduate in Cameroon. This was also the first Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda graduation ceremony held in over four years due to the political crisis in the country.

2020

ASEC initiates pilot phase of Ph.D. Scholarship Program
Two doctoral sister-students selected for the pilot phase of ASEC's Ph.D. Scholarship Program to pursue doctoral degrees at ASEC partner institution, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), in Nairobi, Kenya.

September 21-23 and 28-30: ASEC/CARA Host Inaugural International Consultative Research (ICR) Conference as Virtual Event
Researchers from Australia, Poland, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, India, Kenya, Cameroon, Lesotho, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and the United States were in attendance.

February 12: ASEC begins working in Ghana through the Scholarship Program
To support Catholic Sisters in Africa who are teaching children with special needs.

January 5: ASEC@20 Celebration held in Uganda
Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU) celebrate ASEC's 20th anniversary.

2019

November 5: ASEC@20 Celebration held at Chestnut Hill College
ASEC Founders Chestnut Hill College and the Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate ASEC's 20th anniversary. Read more...

October 26: Bigwa Sisters Seminary Secondary School, Tanzania, receives “Most Improved Schools” award for high academic performance
Many sisters from ASEC's Scholarship Program attend Bigwa.

October: First Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) Workshop held in Ghana
The Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program of ASEC is meant to support both the internal strength and the external service of National Conferences/Associations and congregations as they strive to positively impact human development.

September: ASEC initiates a pilot Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program in Ghana
The purpose of the Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program is to strengthen and/or develop internal systems and structures that will improve the capacity and enhance the vitality, of institutes of Catholic sisters.

June 19-23: First HESA Partners Conference takes place in Kampala, Uganda
Sixty-eight representatives from 23 colleges and universities, 10 national associations of women religious and ASEC staff, participated.

2016

The first SLDI Basic Technology training is held in South Sudan.
A computer lab is established. ASEC partners with Religious Superiors Association of South Sudan (RSASS).

ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the HESA program

ASEC begins working in Malawi and Zambia through the Scholarship Program

September: The first SLDI Basic Technology training is held in Lesotho.
A computer lab is established and a coordinator is hired to support the programs in Lesotho. ASEC partners with Conference of Major Superiors, Lesotho.

January: ASEC begins working in Malawi through the HESA program
Sisters study at Tangaza College in Kenya

2015

ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the SLDI program

August: ASEC begins working in Cameroon through the HESA program
online at Chestnut Hill University

2014

ASEC begins working in Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia through the HESA program

2013

ASEC begins working in Malawi and South Sudan through the SLDI program

ASEC begins working in Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda through the HESA program

2012

ASEC begins working in Cameroon through the SLDI program

ASEC begins working in Tanzania through the Scholarship Program
Provides two-year scholarships for women religious to complete high school or a college diploma. Initiated in 2012 to meet the unique educational needs expressed by sisters in Tanzania.

ASEC provides textbooks for students and provides stipends to support two teachers at Bigwa Secondary School

2011

Construction of science lab at Bigwa Secondary School is completed
Chemistry, Biology and Physics lab

June: Sr. Jane Wakahiu LSOSF, Ph.D. appointed Executive Director of ASEC

2010

ASEC begins working in Zambia through the SLDI program

ASEC Alumni Association Formed

2008

ASEC initiates the Service Learning Program
Provides U.S. college students two-week service learning opportunities in Africa. The first service learning trips were to Morogoro, Tanzania to tutor students at the Bigwa Secondary School.

2007

Jacquelyn Ernster, OSB, Ph.D. is appointed Executive Director of ASEC

ASEC begins working in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda through the SLDI program

2006

Sr. Carol Jean, Chair of ASEC, and a team of ASEC board members meet with Steve Hilton to establish partnership and initiate SLDI program

ASEC obtains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

Sr. Anne Munley is appointed first Executive Director of ASEC
ASEC offices are established at Marywood University.

2004

September: African sisters come to the U.S. for a Fall Conference
United States Conference, "Women Religious Bridge the Gap: Collaborative Education for Service," hosted by ASEC. A total of 25 women religious from sub-Saharan African countries attend the two-week program at Chestnut Hill and Marywood University. Each participant is provided with a laptop. The sisters tour ASEC's founding member institutions.

June: First computer labs and training centers established.
ASEC conducts site visits in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana. Meet with the Executive Committee of the religious congregations for each country, detailing and reviewing the program, clearly establishing accountabilities, learning of local issues and challenges, developing solutions and agreeing to next steps. Computer labs in Nairobi, Kenya and Cape Coast, Ghana were inspected.

1999

ASEC, a momement geared towards supporting women religious in Africa, is inaugurated.

1995

Needs assessment and site visit in Africa
ASEC's founding members, together with national associations of women religious in Africa, conduct needs assessment and a site visit in Africa.