Rays of Hope 2021
Sisters are Unstoppable! Providing Essential Service in Uncertain Times
Read our annual Rays of Hope magazine today.
African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC)
ASEC (pronounced AYE-sek) provides education opportunities to Catholic nuns in Africa. Watch the video to learn more about what we do.
We educate African sisters, improving their ability to impact communities.
While Africa is a continent of vast potential, it faces serious obstacles of poverty, chronic hunger, disease, ecological degradation and violence. Often referred to as nuns, Catholic sisters are a strong force in addressing Africa's challenges head-on and creating hope for a bright future.
Educated sisters are able to impact more people and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals in Africa.
Why educate a Catholic sister?
Catholic nuns in Africa are using their education to solve some of the biggest development challenges our world is facing today.
- They are improving healthcare, hunger and access to clean water.
- They give voices to people who are wrongly persecuted and silenced.
- They care for the young, the old and the forgotten.
- They mentor others, create jobs, strengthen congregations and unite communities.
The impact they are making in communities across Africa is both admirable and heroic. At ASEC, we've learned that if you give a sister the tools to succeed, she's going to change the world.
Brighten your inbox with stories of lives impacted by education.
Our Programs
Our Impact
Our statistics from educating Catholic nuns in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa show the incredible impact1 that they are making on marginalized communities. Because of people like YOU, ASEC has served over 5,300 sisters & stakeholders with INCREDIBLE results such as...
ASEC alumnae have served over 2.2M+ people in poor, rural communities across Africa— where help is needed most.
Alumnae and their mentees have raised $19.3M+ in funding for community sustainability and improvement projects.
Educated sisters have mentored nearly 21,000 people, sharing the skills they've learned with other sisters and community members.
Alumnae projects initiated by sisters have created 3,800+ jobs in under-served rural African communities.
1ASEC SLDI & HESA Evaluation Presentation, April 2020
How educated sisters are making an impact
Nun's ministry improves healthcare in Tanzania
Sr. Edna earns a degree to serve as a pharmaceutical technician in Tanzania to improve healthcare in the country.
Nun reaches out to underserved street boys of Kitale, Kenya
HESA alumna Sr. Winnie provides food, shelter and a new chance at life to adolescent street boys in Kitale, Kenya.
Recent News
Human Trafficking Trends in sub-Saharan Africa (Infographic)
last week: Human trafficking and modern slavery trends and statistics in sub-Saharan Africa.
Graduating as 2020 CUEA Valedictorian and Top of Class
2 weeks ago: HESA participant Sr. Irene Kwena receives honors as top graduating student and valedictorian of her class at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Kenya.