Field Experience with the Elderly Affirms Sister's Passion for Social Work
African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC)
Sr. Albertina interacts with residents of Reitumetse Old Age Home in Lesotho, where she completed her college field experience.
Mon, May 25, 2020
Sr. Albertina's field experience with the elderly affirms her passion for the social work field, where she has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable.
Sr. Albertina Nkunyane, HS, is a participant of ASEC's Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program. She's studying for her Bachelor's of Social Work at ASEC partner university, the National University of Lesotho. As part of her degree program, Sr. Albertina completed her fieldwork experience at the Reitumetse Old Age Home. She tells us that Reitumetse means "we are happy" in the Sesotho language.
Sr. Albertina served at Reitumetse on Thursdays and Fridays, while attending her class lectures from Monday through Wednesday each week.
"It has been a very enriching experience for me and I am thankful for it," she says.
This practical experience also gave Sr. Albertina the opportunity to conduct counseling and occupational therapy sessions with the elderly. She also assisted the residents with activities like knitting, going for a walk, exercising, singing and even playing instruments. She also enjoyed their group time, where each persona was able to share about the joys, sorrows and achievements of their lives.
Of the experience, she says,
"From such experiences I have been affirmed in my passion for Social Work and I know, for sure, that I have made a good choice of my course of study in preparation for an effective interaction with my people starting from now."
Help Sisters to Serve the Vulnerable
There are hundreds of sisters, just like Sr. Albertina, who have a burning passion to serve the poor and vulnerable. You can give them the tools they need to succeed by donating to the education of a sister through ASEC today.
At Mapeera Bakateyamba Home in Uganda, Good Samaritan Sisters serve the elderly, poor, destitute, disabled and neglected people of God without discrimination.
Although she was excited to begin work with the elderly at Elizabeth Bruyere Old Age Home in Lesotho, Sr. Theresia noticed her lack of education proved to be a barrier in her service.