African Sisters Education Collaborative
At the CERRA-Africa Global Research Network Symposium in Nairobi, Kenya, HESA alumnae and ASEC staff presented impactful research, highlighting the vital yet often-overlooked contributions of Catholic sisters to sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
As we celebrate 25 years of ASEC’s transformative work, we honor the women religious who have spearheaded a movement to enhance educational access for women in Africa. Since its official inauguration in 1999, ASEC has expanded to 10 countries and empowered women religious through programs like SLDI, HESA, the Scholarship Program, Service Learning, and the Research Initiative. These initiatives have equipped countless Sisters with leadership and professional skills to address challenges in their communities effectively.
As a pioneer of ASEC, this Sister reflects on 25 years of empowerment and growth through programs like SLDI and HESA. From overcoming challenges in online learning to managing impactful community projects, her journey showcases the transformative power of education and collaboration.
Through ASEC, Sisters across Africa gain the education and skills to lead transformative initiatives in their communities. One Sister shares how the program empowered her to challenge gender biases, build vital infrastructure, and mentor others, fostering growth and empowerment within her congregation and beyond.
As ASEC celebrates its Silver Jubilee, it highlights the transformative power of education in empowering Catholic Sisters to lead impactful community initiatives. From finance management to resource mobilization, Sisters are fostering economic growth, advocating for vulnerable children, and creating sustainable change.
Since its inception in 2006, ASEC has provided transformative education and training for Religious Sisters in Uganda and beyond. By fostering skills in administration, finance, and technology, ASEC has empowered Sisters to enhance their ministries and foster collaboration across congregations.
The ASEC program empowers Catholic Sisters in Africa with values-based education, enhancing their leadership, financial management, and project management skills. Inspired by lessons in Stewardship, Accountability, and Integrity, Sisters are initiating sustainable projects that create jobs and foster community development.
The 2024 ASEC Night of Storytelling: Creativity was a great success!
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.
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.
Sr. Faida noticed how difficult it was for her neighbors to obtain healthy food during lockdown. So, she and the sisters taught them how to plant vegetables using sacks and broken buckets on their veranda.
SLDI alumna Sr. Anacletta implements a program to increase access to HIV/AIDS services and reduce the number of new HIV/AIDS cases among adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho.
