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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In March 2020, sisters participating in ASEC's Scholarship Program in Tanzania gathered for orientation, thanks to our generous donors who sponsor them.

Scholarship Program 2020: A Monumental Year

Dec 9, 2020: [Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia] A year in review of ASEC's Scholarship Program for women religious in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana and Kenya. Read about the program growth, celebrations and achievements as 2020 comes to an end.

Sr. Edna serves as a pharmaceutical technician at St. Benedict Ndanda Referral Hospital in the Mtwara region of Tanzania. She and her 8 coworkers dispense medication for the entire hospital, an estimated 90-200 patients per day.

Nun's Ministry Improves Healthcare in Tanzania

Dec 9, 2020: [Tanzania] Sr. Edna earns a degree to serve as a pharmaceutical technician in Tanzania to improve healthcare in the country.

Sisters celebrate the graduation of HESA participants from ASEC partner university, St. Augustine University College (SAUT), in Mwanza, Tanzania (2019).

Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) Program, 2020 Year in Review

Dec 7, 2020: [] A year in review of the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) program. Read HESA news, graduation announcements, student achievements and program growth as HESA Phase II Year 3 comes to a close.

Photos from the 2020 Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) graduation ceremony on October 31, 2020. Afterwards, a celebration took place for the 13 HESA CUCG graduates.

HESA Students at CUCG Top of Class for 3 Consecutive Years

Dec 2, 2020: [Ghana] Sr. Phliomena, Sr. Felicity and Sr. Gifty make HESA participants the top graduating students at Catholic University College of Ghana for three consecutive years.

Sr. Draru talks with students of ASEC partner, Jordan University College (JUCO), in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Diving into the New Normal

Dec 1, 2020: [USA] ASEC Executive Director Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, Ph.D. reflects on the resilience of ASEC's sister-students in Africa in the midst of a global pandemic.

In January, 2020, HESA alumna Sr. Winnie Mutuku (top left), founded Upendo Street Children (USC), an organization that serves homeless boys in Kitale, Kenya.<br/>(Photos courtesy of Sr. Winnie and the USC Facebook Page)

Nun Reaches Out to Underserved Street Boys of Kitale, Kenya

Nov 27, 2020: [Kenya] HESA alumna Sr. Winnie provides food, shelter and a new chance at life to adolescent street boys in Kitale, Kenya.

ASEC Service trip photos from Kenya (2017) and Ghana (2019).

Service Learning program provides unique and beneficial opportunity for college students

Nov 23, 2020: [Ghana, USA] COVID-19 postpones 2020 Service Learning trip to Ghana, but recent trends show benefits of the program.

Conference of Major Superiors of Religious in Ghana (CMSRGH) and local consultants working together to improve internal systems during ASEC's first year of the pilot Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program.

Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) Program, Year 1 Outcomes

Nov 16, 2020: [Ghana] The first year of ICB has provided many useful lessons ASEC can use for capacity building with future institutions.

Sr. Christabel, an SLDI student in Uganda, works from a tent on her congregation's farm to get the best internet connectivity.

COVID-19 Highlights the Importance of Educating Catholic Sisters

Nov 9, 2020: [Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, USA] Throughout the pandemic, sisters are doing what they always do: they get the job done. Their problem solving skills and resilience are exactly what the world needs right now.

Sisters Rise to the Top of the Class

Nov 2, 2020: [Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia] African nuns are reaching major academic achievements while amplifying their influence on some of the biggest challenges facing African society.

Sr. Augustina (center) with students of Mazenod High School in Maseru, Lesotho.

Girls' High School in Lesotho Thrives Under Sister's Stewardship

Oct 26, 2020: [Lesotho] “[SLDI] has helped me a great deal because I couldn't stand in front of different stakeholders and, you know, address them on issues. ASEC gave me the courage and stance to say, ‘Yeah this is what has to be done.’ For that, I’m grateful.”