African Sisters Education Collaborative
Chestnut Hill College junior Isabella Schmeltzer reflected on her transformative 2024 Service Learning trip to Kenya, where she connected with students, shared teaching techniques, and gained a deeper understanding of culture, faith, and education.
Sr. Catherine Felix Kimario, SCC, a 2023 ASEC Scholarship graduate from Tanzania, is combating antimicrobial resistance by educating patients and ensuring proper medication use at the Holy Cross Health Centre.
As a nurse educator and national examiner in Kenya, Sr. Gertrude Muhatia, SMK, uses her ASEC-sponsored education to mentor students with compassion and professionalism—empowering the next generation of healthcare workers.
During ASEC’s 2023 Service Learning trip to Ghana, Marywood University student D’Ambra Galvin used her music therapy training to connect with children and support local schools—an experience she says changed her life.
At the 2025 Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit in Dublin, Sr. Draru of ASEC shared a compelling message: true inclusion must embrace individual identity.
In Kenya, Sr. Georgette Sawadogo, DDS, is using her ASEC-sponsored education to fight youth unemployment by creating jobs and empowering young people, especially young mothers, through vocational training and social entrepreneurship.
In Malawi, Sr. Stivelia Macloud, SBVM, used the knowledge she gained through ASEC’s Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) to launch an agricultural project that empowers vulnerable community members to break the cycle of poverty through farming.
When a mother in Malawi faced a life-threatening childbirth complication, Sr. Maureen Chalamanda, SOL—a three-time ASEC alumna—used her education to save both mother and baby, proving how vital trained sisters are to community healthcare.
Sr. Grace Akunna John-Emezi, HHCJ is transforming health awareness in African communities through her dedicated advocacy for breast cancer education.
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.
In Uganda, the Banyatereza Sisters are leading the way in sustainable agriculture through their Banyatereza Coffee initiative. With support from ASEC/SLDI and partnerships with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, the Sisters are transforming 34 acres of land into a thriving coffee plantation. This innovative project not only generates income for the Institute but also fosters community collaboration, land conservation, and pastoral outreach.
Sr. Ustina Atwebembere, a Medical Mission Sister, shares how ASEC’s training in leadership, project management, and entrepreneurship has transformed her role as an administrator and community leader. Through skills gained in the program, she has secured grants for impactful projects, implemented sustainable initiatives, and empowered other women religious to take on leadership roles.
