Higher Education for Sisters in Africa
Sisters Leadership Development Initiative
Scholarships
Service Learning
Help us reach our goal of $50,000!
Help us provide scholarships to 25 women religious in Tanzania.
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Our Growth. Our Goal. Our Vision.
Of the 40,000 sisters in the region ASEC serves, 80 percent have no higher education credentials. We are changing that statistic.
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. Catholic sisters are a strong force in harnessing that potential, addressing these obstacles head-on and creating hope for a bright future.
By providing access to education, sisters are able to impact more people and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals in Africa. Sisters 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.
African sisters are using their education to solve some of the biggest development challenges our world is facing today. 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.
Our Programs
SLDI
Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI)
HESA
Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA)
Scholarships
Support women religious in completion of high school or its equivalency.
Service Learning
International service learning opportunities for faculty, students and sisters.
Our Impact
Our statistics from educating sisters in 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa show the incredible impact1 that sisters 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 million people in poor, rural communities across Africa— where help is needed most.
Alumnae and their mentees have raised $13.7M in funding for community sustainability and improvement projects.
Educated sisters have mentored 6,000+ people, sharing the skills they've learned with other sisters and community members.
Alumnae projects initiated by sisters have created 3,300 jobs in under-served rural African communities.
1From 2012-2018, 311 SLDI alumnae and 2 HESA alumnae reported that they secured funds (incl. grants, monetary and in-kind donations) for needed social and/or human development projects; this is about 25% of the total SLDI graduates (N=1253) through 2015.
How educated sisters are making an impact
This sawdust briquette recipe solves a common problem for women in rural Africa
In the forests of Malawi, women walk long distances to find dry wood for cooking and heating their homes. But, Sr. Jane's innovative idea solves this common problem and now she's teaching the recipe women in her community.
The challenges of consent and respect for all human life
Sr. Olivia's faith in God, internal strength and education all play important roles in protecting and defending the lives of unborn children carried by young rape victims in a South Sudan health clinic.
Recent News
Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program, 2018 year in review
last week: A year in review of the Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program. Read about milestones, news and experiences from 2018 as SLDI Phase IV, Year 3 comes to ...
Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program, 2018 year in review
last week: A year in review of the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program. Read HESA news, graduation announcements, student achievements and program growth as HESA ...