Capacity Building That Transforms Communities

I was honored to represent ASEC last June in our collaboration with Villanova University’s Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at their Africa regional conference in Nairobi, Kenya. This was an important moment for ASEC and an opportunity for several ASEC alumni to shine professionally. I encourage you to read the article by Sr. Joyce Nyakwama, SSND, in these pages to learn more about it. I have another story to tell.

During my week in Kenya, I had the opportunity to talk with two ASEC alumni who exemplify ASEC’s core value of Capacity Building. I want to share their stories with you here because they show clearly how ASEC is building bridges that strengthen communities.

The first is Sr. Georgette Sawadogo, DDS, who received her master’s degree at Tangaza University in Kenya through ASEC’s Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program and recently completed her doctorate there through ASEC’s Scholarship Program. Sr. Georgette fights youth unemployment by creating jobs and supporting young people, especially young mothers, through vocational training and social entrepreneurship. She is the director of St. Therese Vocational Training Centre and Roussel House in Nairobi, Kenya, a mission she began with a start-up grant of $50 more than 20 years ago. Roussel House, where I stayed during most of my visit, can now host up to 500 participants for conferences and training. The Training Centre now reaches approximately 1,500 students and creates 200 jobs each year for young adults. The Training Centre also recently contracted with the nearby Catholic University of Eastern Africa to operate and staff the student dining room there. In this way, Sr. Georgette’s vision and leadership are transforming lives and expanding opportunities for thousands of young adults in Nairobi.

My second story is set on a farm in Nyeri, in the foothills approaching Mt. Kenya. There, at the formation house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes, I met Sr. Josephine Kwenga, SJT, who has benefited from two ASEC programs: Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI, 2015) and HESA (2023 to present). She is currently the development director of her religious institute and has written more than 10 successful grant proposals. She says:

“The empowerment I received through ASEC has also opened opportunities for wider service. I have been appointed to leadership roles in and out of my congregation, invited to serve on boards, participate in local and international conferences, and contribute as a panelist in various forums. The knowledge and confidence gained through ASEC have enabled me to obtain employment opportunities and allowed me to serve vulnerable populations while supporting my congregation.  This gives me deep joy and fulfillment in my life and vocation as a sister, and I am grateful.”

I would like to tell you about the amazing farm operation she has set up at the formation house, but you will just have to go see it for yourself—it is truly a labor of love and an example for the surrounding community.