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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ASEC Board Chair Sister Barbara Spears, SNJM and Sister Nancy Kamau, LSOSF stand outside the entrance to the Apostolic Nunciature, awaiting guests’ arrival to ASEC’s 25 Jubilee Dinner in Washington D.C.

ASEC Celebrates 25 Years of Transformative Impact: Jubilee Dinner Marks a Milestone for Education and Empowerment in Africa

6 days ago: [USA] On October 3, 2024, the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) hosted its 25th Jubilee Dinner in Washington, D.C., celebrating its legacy of empowering Catholic sisters through education to address local and global challenges, allowing them to become leaders across Africa.

ASEC’s Night of Storytelling: Creativity was an evening of joy and inspiration.

A Grateful Recap of ASEC’s Night of Storytelling

5 months ago: [USA] The 2024 ASEC Night of Storytelling: Creativity was a great success!

Sr. Given Chibesakunda, CSJB, Scholarship recipient in Zambia holds newborn twins.

Scholarship 2023 Year in Review

9 months ago: [Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania] Since 2012, ASEC’s Scholarship Program has enabled over 790 sisters in seven African countries to pursue secondary and higher education, empowering them to serve their communities more effectively.

A Little Nun - A Poem By Sr. Esther Koros, OSF

9 months ago: [] "A Little Nun" is a heartfelt poem by Sr. Esther Koros, OSF, an alumna of ASEC’s SLDI Administration Track celebrating the transformative impact of ASEC on women religious.

2023 Service Learning participants at service sites in Ghana.

A Return to Africa

9 months ago: [Ghana] The ASEC Service Learning Program resumed in 2023, with students from Chestnut Hill College and Marywood University traveling to Ghana for three weeks, where they engaged in volunteer work, cultural immersion, and academic study.

Clockwise from the top left: Sr. Innocentia Ndikum, SOM, at poultry raising project in Cameroon, Sr. Immaculator Rugumila, FDCC, with scout children at Canossa Primary School in Tanzania, Sr. Harriet Baker, IHMR, cares for patient in Uganda.

ASEC's Path to Sustainability

9 months ago: [USA] ASEC empowers Catholic sisters in Africa to transform marginalized communities through education and leadership, with its Path to Sustainability Initiative securing future support via a matching challenge grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

ASEC nurtures multi-layered partnerships that further its mission in accordance with the gospel call to unity and solidarity. Recognizing the shared goal of furthering educational opportunities for women religious in Africa, ASEC works together with partners in the spirit of global sisterhood to support the personal and spiritual growth of sisters in Africa.

Partnerships Rooted in Collaboration

9 months ago: [Kenya, USA] Collaboration is central to ASEC's mission, exemplified by partnerships with educational institutions and national conferences of religious across ten African countries, all aimed at empowering Catholic sisters through education, as highlighted in the 2023 HESA Partners Conference.

HESA students top: Sr. Maureen Chepkemoi, SMI
Bottom left to right: Sr. Catherine Etyang, SMK and Sr. Irene Wawira Njeru, FMA, serving in Kenyan ministries.

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa 2023 Year in Review

9 months ago: [Ghana, Kenya, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] The Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program empowers Catholic sisters in Africa by providing access to post-secondary education, resulting in over 1,144 graduates across 24 partner institutions in 10 African countries and the U.S.

SLDI participants Top left: Sr. Teresa Mulenga, TS, with water project participants in Malawi
Top right: Basic Technology Workshop participants in Uganda
Bottom: Sr. Nancy Njari, RA, with students in Kenya

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) 2023 Year in Review

9 months ago: [Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, USA] The Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) empowers Catholic sisters in 10 African countries by enhancing their leadership, technology, and financial skills, resulting in significant community impact.

CARA-ASEC Visiting Scholar from India tours a tulip field during her stay at ASEC Headquarters in Scranton, PA, USA.

Research for a Brighter Future

9 months ago: [USA] ASEC’s commitment to research has been the cornerstone of its success, driving program development and shaping the future of education for Catholic sisters in Africa, while its Research Initiative continues to expand knowledge, empower sisters as researchers, and build a central repository of valuable data.

In 2004, ASEC hosted a conference at Marywood University for African sisters in leadership positions to enhance their understanding of technology and to mutually explore avenues for access to education in their countries.

How Far We Have Come!

9 months ago: [USA] From a bold seed planted 25 years ago, ASEC's mission to educate Catholic sisters in Africa has blossomed into a powerful force for change, transforming communities across the continent.

Collaboration: Where visionary partnerships turn dreams into reality, creating lasting impact across Africa and beyond.

The Path to Prophetic Collaboration

9 months ago: [USA] ASEC celebrates 25 years of impactful collaboration, driven by the vision and courage of its Founding Mothers, whose pioneering spirit and dedication have transformed lives across Africa and the globe, with every donation this year matched 1.5 times by the Hilton Foundation to continue this legacy of hope and service.

ASEC sisters give a reading of the Holy Bible at an SLDI graduation held in Uganda in October of 2018.

In Her Words: Lenten Reflection

more than a year ago.: [none] We are almost halfway through Lent. We have gone through the first three weeks and are almost through the fourth week. This is a good time to pause and check in on how we are progressing with our Lenten resolutions.

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

ASEC Sisters teach children how to dance at St. Peter Clavery School in Mikumi, Tanzania

Dance in African Christianity and Culture as Explained by an ASEC Sister

more than a year ago.: [Kenya, Zambia, USA] After being with ASEC for a year, I’ve had the opportunity to learn so much about Catholic sisters, African culture, and some of the unique and beautiful traditions of Catholicism in Africa. One thing that I’ve noticed is the power of incorporating dance into graduations, mass and religious celebrations in Africa. I wanted to know more.

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