ASEC News & Reflections

ASEC is serving Catholic Sisters in 10 sub-Saharan African countries, providing access to educational opportunities. There is much to celebrate regarding the work of ASEC and the impact of Sisters who are benefiting from our programs.

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Guests enjoy a lively cocktail hour at ASEC's 25th Anniversary Gala in the beautiful rotunda of Chestnut Hill College.

ASEC Celebrates 25 Years of Impact With its First Gala Honoring its Founding Mothers

Yesterday: [USA] ASEC celebrates 25 years of impact with its inaugural gala, honoring its visionary Founding Mothers and raising vital funds to empower Catholic sisters in Africa.

Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, Ph.D., ASEC executive director, shares her journey of faith, resilience, and leadership during a heartfelt discussion at the University of Notre Dame.

Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, Ph.D., ASEC Executive Director Honored with 2024 Notre Dame Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education

last week: [USA] The African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) is delighted to announce that Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, Ph.D., our esteemed Executive Director, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Notre Dame Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education. This prestigious award, established in 2003 by the University of Notre Dame, recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to sustaining and strengthening Catholic education.

1st Laptop Distribution

Founding Mothers: Detailing ASEC’s Founding

3 weeks ago: [USA] The ASEC Founding Mothers Research Project highlights the vision and efforts of ASEC’s Founding Mothers, whose collaborative leadership established an organization that has empowered over 10,000 Catholic Sisters in Africa to serve millions.

Top to bottom: ASEC Board of Directors and staff host a 25th anniversary dinner at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC. ASEC staff dance at the 2nd annual “Night of Storytelling” event in Scranton, PA.

Mission Advancement 2024 Year in Review

3 weeks ago: [USA] In 2024, ASEC marked 25 years of empowering Catholic Sisters in Africa to transform their communities through education, leadership, and service, reflecting on its milestones and preparing for a sustainable future.

Left to right: Scholarship Orientation entertainment in Tanzania, Bigwa Secondary School graduation in Tanzania, first Scholarship graduates in Cameroon.

Scholarship 2024 Year in Review

3 weeks ago: [Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe] The ASEC Scholarship Program empowers Catholic Sisters across nine countries with access to education, enabling them to better serve their congregations and communities, with over 890 scholarships awarded since 2012.

Sr. Jackline Mwikali Mwongela, IBVM, leading the Talitha Kum Youth Ambassadors Training of Trainers Workshop in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Little Girl, I Say to You, Rise Up; Igniting Hope for Human Trafficking Survivors

3 weeks ago: [Kenya, Uganda, USA] Sr. Jackline Mwikali Mwongela, an alum of ASEC’s HESA program and Project Manager at Religious Against Human Trafficking (RAHT) in Kenya, has been empowering women and children to rise above human trafficking through prevention, protection, and partnerships, while offering hope to survivors through education and holistic support.

Madilyn Grose with children at Cottolengo Home for Orphaned children in Kenya.

Nothing is Impossible: ASEC Service Learning Reflections from Kenya

3 weeks ago: [Kenya, USA] Through ASEC’s Service Learning Trip, Madi's experience in Kenya helped bridge cultural gaps, teaching children about disability awareness while being profoundly impacted by their resilience and kindness.

ASEC staff complete site visit at Mgolole Orphanage in Tanzania, January 2024.

Stand with ASEC & Expand the Reach of Catholic Sisters

3 weeks ago: [USA] ASEC celebrates 25 years of empowering Catholic sisters, highlighting their vital role in transforming communities across Africa. Through education and leadership training, ASEC alumnae have become agents of change, planting hope in areas where it is needed most, and fostering a sustainable, brighter future.

ASEC @ 25 Years

ASEC @ 25 Years

3 weeks ago: [USA] In this heartfelt poem, Sr. Emmanuelina Musiimenta of Uganda reflects on the transformative journey of African Catholic sisters empowered by ASEC's education programs. She expresses deep gratitude for the guidance and support provided by ASEC, celebrating the growth, leadership, and lasting impact that sisters have had on their communities.

Sr. Archille Tchinwa, a Sister of Saint Ann (SSA), currently serves as a school teacher and vocation animator for her congregation. She is also a pioneer participant in ASEC’s first French speaking SLDI Finance cohort (2022-2024) in Cameroon. This new offering expands the reach of the SLDI program to the nearly 46% of sisters in Cameroon that are French speaking only, a previously underserved population of sisters in need of the vital skills and knowledge provided by SLDI. Although French-speaking by origin, Sr. Archille enthusiastically offered her perspectives on the pilot French SLDI workshop below.

Crossing the Language Divide: SLDI’s Pilot French Cohort in Cameroon

3 weeks ago: [USA] 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.

Sr. Vera Bi Kiekiseeh Otia, an alum of SLDI and HESA, leads St. Pius X Comprehensive and Technical College (SPICOTEC) in Bota-Limbe, Cameroon, empowers 250 students annually with the skills to become self-employed and create opportunities in their community.

ASEC Alumnae Making Positive Change

3 weeks ago: [USA] ASEC’s annual Alumnae Workshops offer professional development and networking for graduates of the SLDI and HESA programs. These workshops help alumnae like Sr. Vera, Sr. Gertrude, and Sr. Catherine make impactful contributions to their communities, whether in education, healthcare, or vocational training, fostering growth and empowerment across Africa.

HESA graduates in Uganda

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) 2024 Year in Review

3 weeks ago: [USA] The Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program provides Catholic sisters with access to higher education, enabling them to lead transformative ministries across Africa. With over 2,196 sisters enrolled in programs since 2012, HESA empowers women religious to take on leadership roles in education, healthcare, and community development.

SLDI field trip participants in Tanzania

Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) 2024 Year in Review

3 weeks ago: [USA] The Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) has empowered over 4,400 African sisters since 2007, enhancing their leadership skills in administration, finance, and technology, and fostering social entrepreneurship, with graduates making significant impacts in their communities.

SLDI alum, Sr. Monica Kawira Mutegi, SCC, serves as Headmistress at the Holy Cross Nursery and Primary School in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Creating Impact: ASEC Alumnae Impact on Beneficiaries

3 weeks ago: [USA] ASEC’s Catholic Sisters Beneficiary Survey reveals the profound impact ASEC alumnae have on their communities, with 97% of beneficiaries reporting an improved quality of life, showcasing the transformative power of educated women religious in Africa.

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