Sr. Archille Tchinwa’s participation in ASEC’s SLDI Finance cohort has transformed her work as a school teacher and vocation animator in Cameroon. Armed with new skills in technology, time management, and social entrepreneurship, Sr. Archille is empowering her community, congregation, and students by applying her knowledge to enhance education and advocate for displaced girls.
[Participating in the SLDI French Finance Track] has been an amazing experience even though it has not been easy twisting the old brain to welcome something new or sitting for hours the whole day for this purpose. Beginning from the fact that there was quite a “lack” as far as all the knowledge gained is concerned. Starting right back from basic technology skills, with the tools at our disposal, I learned how to manipulate these digital tools and it was so exciting. It seems as if all my difficulties in my apostolate were solved. It has not only been formation for my apostolate but for myself, with stress and time management and for our congregation and communities, social entrepreneurship, and reports writing. I’m coming out now feeling like a professional and this brings about some esteem and fulfillment within me.
Obviously, this knowledge empowers me to give myself in my apostolate. From the first year that I began ASEC, I started using the knowledge—preparing my lessons in PowerPoint, which captivates my students and keeps them attentive and focused and spares me from copying bulky notes on the board. When I have a talk with youths, which sometimes can be more than five hundred, I present my talk to them in PowerPoint. I type my exams myself using Word documents without going again to the school secretariat. I taught my sisters and some teachers interested in these skills, which they found helpful in their teaching ministries, thus I mentored them on that and many other things. Therefore, it is not over, I will keep on using the skills for my apostolate, my community, my congregation, and myself. Right now, I am attempting to write a grant with knowledge I acquired, to help raise funds to build a dormitory for internally displaced girls in my area.
As a vocation promoter of my congregation I do flyers with captivating images and the essentials of my congregation to send to girls aspiring and this speaks to them more than my words, thanks to the SLDI program.
My capacity to speak French and English is a great benefit for me to transmit the skills received without complaining of a language barrier. Whenever I speak to youths or I’m mentoring somebody I do not need translation, I easily switch into any of the languages to reach out to those in need of me. Therefore, it will not matter whether the person/sister I mentor will be English-speaking or French-speaking. I will joyfully do it without any problem. I’m convinced that it’s very valuable for ASEC to continue to offer a French speaking cohort to the sisters. Moreover, they also need it for their personal growth. For during the formation I experienced sisters being so excited, expressing joy and wonder. I could see in each the feeling that “I can also do it,” manifesting thanks to the SLDI program.
This program brought us together, making new friends, building new relationships, helping one another in teamwork to come out with a project writing, struggling to learn together the skills we never had before. In addition, through this, I have weaved relationships that will last which would not have been if this program did not exist. It is my great desire to collaborate with other SLDI students in future, whether in Cameroon or elsewhere so that the spirit and the skills keep growing and enriching one another. I even thought that after these three years, there would be a continuation of the program for more skills to be acquired.
It is so beautiful, so enriching, so empowering, so fulfilling. I did not acquire a hundred percent of all that was given but I am very grateful and happy with what I have.
Again, this year, I will be the bursar of my community; I will also be the dormitory mistress in school. My skills acquired in finance lessons and ethical leadership will be of great help to me as I begin this new academic year, all these, thanks to the SLDI program. I really wish to continue if there will be another opportunity.
Sponsor a Sister’s Education Today – Empower the Next Generation of Leaders
Sr. Archille’s journey is an inspiring example of how education can transform not only a person’s life but also their entire community. With the right tools, sisters like Sr. Archille can continue to spread knowledge, improve education, and advocate for social change. By sponsoring the education of a sister in a similar program, you can be part of a lasting impact on communities across Africa. Your support will help provide life-changing skills in finance, technology, and leadership, which will be used to uplift others.
This article is addressing the following UN Sustainable Development Goal(s):
