My name is Sr. Lucia Ngaba, OP, a Dominican Contemplative nun from Nairobi, Kenya. Learning basic technology through ASEC’s SLDI program has been an eye-opening and empowering journey for me. Before starting the course, I could hardly imagine how much these tools, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, among others, would enrich both my personal work and the life of my community. Now, I can confidently say that these skills have become part of my daily contribution to our mission.
PowerPoint was my first and most fascinating area of discovery. I learned how to create presentations that are not only informative but also engaging. The most exciting part was making photo videos for my sisters. By combining images, text, background music, and smooth slide transitions, I was able to bring our shared memories to life. These photo videos have become treasured keepsakes for our community, allowing us to look back on important moments with joy and gratitude, motivating my sisters to want to learn how to create, thus allowing me to mentor my sisters on the same PowerPoint.
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Sisters celebrate receiving laptops as part of their SLDI Basic Technology Workshop
Publisher opened a new creative door for me, which I am using to reduce the community expenses. For example, after learning how to design professional-looking documents and layouts, I made a booklet for the Solemnity of St. Dominic, ensuring that the celebration was marked with a beautiful and well-organized program. I also created a pamphlet for our community, and some calendars which help us share who we are and further promote our work. The ability to combine text, images, and color into a clear, attractive design has made our printed materials more appealing and effective.
Excel was a different kind of challenge, more about organization and accuracy. I learned how to create spreadsheets for recording and calculating data, which is essential for planning and record-keeping. From simple tables to more detailed data analysis, I have seen how Excel can save time, reduce errors, and make my responsibilities as federal financial administrator more efficient.
In short, what I learned in basic technology has been a gift not only to me but also to my sisters in my congregation, our community, and the people we serve. It has improved our communication, preserved our history, and strengthened the image we present to the world. This is why I am truly grateful for this training–it is a blessing that continues to bear fruit in many lives.
