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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A lack of clean water affects nearly 1 in 10 people worldwide, the majority of which live in isolated rural areas. Water scarcity prevents many children, especially girls, from receiving an education.

Stream of Hope; Clean Water Initiatives in Africa

Nov 4, 2019: [Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania] Catholic Nuns write grants and raise funds to support clean water projects in African communities.

Sisters from ASEC programs invite you to take a serious look at what you can do to better care for our environment. Ask yourself what mark you are leaving on the face of Mother Earth. What action can you take to erase that mark?

Unmarking Mother Earth; Sisters Solve Environmental Issues in Africa

Sep 2, 2019: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia] Sisters are dedicated to solving the serious environmental issues facing Africa today, leaving the world in better condition than how they received it.

Sr. Hellen Matchado is improving nutrition and food security in Malawi for pregnant women. Here, she's seen feeding a malnourished child and demonstrating positive parenting to new mothers.

Food Security for New Mothers & Their Babies in Malawi

Apr 8, 2019: [Malawi] Sr. Hellen is using skills learned in ASEC's SLDI program to ease the stress of motherhood affecting women across Malawi.

Many people living in sub-Saharan Africa are afraid to begin life anew due to disease, poverty and lack of resources. Catholic Sisters bring renewed hope to poor and marginalized communities across Africa.

Rebirth; Sisters Renew Hope in Africa for the Poor and Marginalized

Apr 1, 2019: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Uganda] ASEC educates religious women who are renewing hope in Africa for poor and marginalized communities. Catholic Sisters provide hope in Africa many people living who are afraid to begin life anew due to disease, poverty and lack of resources.

46 students graduated from Bigwa Seminary Secondary
School in Tanzania. 29 of those students were able to graduate
because of the ASEC two year Bigwa scholarship (April, 2018).

Scholarship Program, 2018 year in review

Dec 17, 2018: [Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia] A year in review of ASEC's Scholarship Program for women religious in Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. Read about the program growth, celebrations and achievements as 2018 comes to an end.

This year alone, ASEC facilitated a total of 36 SLDI Workshops in ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Above are some of our SLDI students from Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Nigeria.

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) program, 2018 year in review

Dec 3, 2018: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, USA] 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 a close.

HESA students graduate from Tangaza College, Kenya (May, 2018).

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program, 2018 year in review

Nov 28, 2018: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, SouthSudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] 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 Phase II Year 2 comes to a close.

Sr. Jane teaches her sawdust briquette recipe to the women in her community. It has long been a dream of these women to find an alternative to firewood.

This Sawdust Briquette Recipe Solves a Common Problem for Women in Rural Africa

Nov 12, 2018: [Malawi] 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.

Buildings at the Kasina Health Centre with solar panels on the roofs.

Solar Project Creates Stable Electricity for Malawian Health Centre

Oct 3, 2018: [Malawi] The country of Malawi struggles with several problems including an unstable power grid, so SLDI Alumni Sr. Stella decided to use Malawi's natural resources to power her congregation's health centre.

Members of a farmer support group pose with Sr. Teresa for a photo. She spearheaded a project to train nearly 50 farmers in new farming technology to help reduce food shortages in Gwaza Village in Dedza, Malawi. Of course, Sr. Teresa sent this photo along to funder of this project so they could see the impact their donation has made. This is key to donor retention.

Donor retention strategies to win donor confidence

Sep 18, 2018: [Malawi] Sr. Teresa shares how she won the confidence of her donors and how donor retention plays an important role in receiving funding for multiple projects that can benefit the community.

Agnes now volunteers with Sr. Sonia at the Ganya Health Center to help other youth living with an HIV positive diagnosis see that there is life and hope for them.

HIV+ Youth in Malawi Learn To Live with Hope

Sep 5, 2018: [Malawi] The story of Agnes, a young girl who was unaware she was HIV positive until the death of her mother and father. Agnes joined Sr. Sonia's support group where she learned how to deal with the stigma and challenges facing Malawian youth living with HIV.