Our Impact
Our statistics from educating Catholic sisters in Africa show the incredible impact that they are making on marginalized communities. YOUR support has allowed ASEC to serve over 10,900 sisters and stakeholders with INCREDIBLE results such as…
Served over 11.2M+
ASEC alumni have served over 11.2M+ people in poor, rural communities across Africa— where help is needed most.
Sustainability and Improvement Projects
Alumni and their mentees support community sustainability and improvement projects across the globe.
Mentored 89,500+ people
Educated sisters have mentored 89,500+ people, sharing the skills they’ve learned with other sisters and community members.
Created 6,400+ jobs
Alumni projects initiated by sisters have created 6,400+ jobs in underserved rural African communities.
Catholic Sisters are solving serious development issues in Africa
ASEC’s programs educate sisters so they can serve more people in poor and rural communities across Africa, where help is needed most.
Why Catholic Sisters?
Sisters are the workforce of the Catholic Church… yet 48%2 of the 40,0003 religious women in Africa are in dire need of training and education.
These women dedicate their lives to social and human development, and with your support to receive an education, they will be far more effective in their service efforts. ASEC has educated more than 10,900 sisters.
Although we’ve made significant strides, the need for educating Catholic nuns cannot be underestimated.
Providing educational opportunities enables sisters to design new paths to make their congregations and their communities more self-sufficient so that they can thrive over the long term.
Attending secondary school is the vital first step to educate sisters so that they may use the skills, networks, and confidence to take on professional roles. Some of the impact fully educated sisters have on their community include:
- Grant-writing to raise money for sustainability, health and job training programs
- Strategic and financial planning to make sure their community will thrive for years to come
- Budgeting to plan for projects and investments that will improve their local community
- Designing and implementing projects that are desperately needed to cultivate a thriving community
- Program evaluation and much more
Your support will help provide much-needed resources for sisters to gain the education they need to effectively dedicate their lives to serving their communities every single day.
The Power of One Educated Sister
Using the skills they’ve learned in ASEC’s programs, sisters are able to write grants, acquire funding, and manage human development projects that serve poor and rural communities across Africa. This is the power of one sister4 educated through ASEC:
10,811 individuals
Each educated sister serves approximately 10,811 individuals, who benefit from her skills and knowledge.
$225,987 in funding
On average, one sister brings $225,987 in funding for sustainability and improvement projects in her community.
Mentors approximately 108 people
Each sister mentors approximately 108 people, sharing the skills and knowledge she’s gained in her studies.
Nearly 12 additional jobs
Nearly 12 additional jobs in an underserved rural community are created by each educated sister.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Sustainable Development Contributions
Providing educational opportunities to these sisters has far-reaching impacts. Sisters that have graduated from our programs are significantly contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From improving healthcare and access to clean water, to building infrastructure and initiating income generating projects, educated and empowered sisters are key players in overcoming many of Africa’s biggest development challenges.
56%5 of ASEC alumni projects impact more than one SDG
Areas receiving the highest funding amounts from alumnae projects:
- 04: Quality Education: 66% of funding secured
- 03: Good Health and Well-Being: 41% of funding secured
- 01: No Poverty: 40% of funding secured
Sources
1ASEC Annual Alumnae Survey. Total funding secured includes funds raised by ASEC alumnae for the 10 countries served by ASEC as well as Central African Republic and Zimbabwe.
22019-20 ASEC Congregation Survey (N = 32,294).
3See, Holy (2018). Statistical yearbook of the church 2018. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
4ASEC total served divided by other evaluation results to determine an average result per sister.
5Annual ASEC Evaluation Presentation.
How Educated Sisters Are Making An Impact
Scholarship Graduate Receives Prestigious Award
Scholarship alumna Sr. Judith Zulu was nationally recognized in Zambia with a Labour Day Award for her dedicated service as a clinical officer, improving healthcare for her community.
Predicting Future Deforestation Levels in Malawi
Through her research on deforestation and her work as a teacher, Sr. Agnes Kachali is educating communities in Malawi to protect the environment and inspiring young people to take action for a sustainable future.