A Bridge Built by Many: Service Learning in Zambia – Service Learning Program

Every meaningful bridge begins with a strong foundation. For ASEC’s Service Learning Program, that foundation is built in the months before participants travel, through intentional preparation, collaboration, and relationship-building. Since 2008, the program has provided students, faculty mentors, and Catholic sisters from ASEC’s corporate member institutions with opportunities to serve alongside sisters in African communities, fostering global leadership through cultural immersion, mutual learning, and spiritual growth.

In the summer of 2027, ASEC’s Service Learning Program will travel to Zambia for the first time. While the three-week immersion is the visible expression of the program, the bridges that make this experience possible are built long before participants arrive. Over the past year, ASEC staff, faculty, mentors, and Catholic sisters across continents have worked together to develop an experience rooted in learning, service, and meaningful connection.

A central part of this preparation has been developing connections with the sisters and ministries of Kasisi Mission in Lusaka, Zambia, where participants will be hosted during their trip. ASEC staff in Zambia and the United States collaborated to identify service opportunities, accommodations, and cultural experiences that would allow participants to engage meaningfully with the local community. In January 2026, ASEC United States staff visited Kasisi Mission, which is run by the Little Servants of Mary Immaculate sisters, to learn about their ministries and better understand how participants could support the work already taking place. These conversations ensured that the Service Learning experience would reflect the needs and priorities of the local community.

Throughout the year, ASEC staff and mentors will continue meeting virtually to prepare for the experience. These conversations strengthen partnerships with Kasisi Mission and service site hosts, coordinate logistics, and ensure participants are supported throughout their journey. By working closely with the sisters who lead these ministries, ASEC is building a foundation of trust and collaboration before participants ever arrive in Zambia.

During their three-week stay, participants will serve alongside sisters in several ministries at Kasisi Mission, including an orphanage, girls’ secondary school, novitiate, health clinic, and a home for the elderly. Many of these ministries are led by ASEC alumni, providing participants with the opportunity to witness the lasting impact of ASEC’s investment in Catholic sisters while cultivating relationships with leaders who are transforming their communities. Among them is Sr. Catherine S. Mutalanski, LSMI, a Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) alum, who now serves as head teacher of both the primary and secondary schools at Kasisi Mission.

Reflecting on her own Service Learning experience in 2025, Sr. Sheila Kennedy, SSJ, a psychologist at Chestnut Hill College, described the program as “a seamless blend of learning and service.” Her words capture the heart of ASEC’s Service Learning Program: preparing participants not only to serve, but also to listen, learn, and forge lasting alliances through shared experiences.

The journey to Zambia represents more than a three-week service experience; it reflects months of collaboration, trust, and shared commitment. Through the efforts of students, staff, mentors, and Catholic sisters, ASEC continues building bridges across cultures and continents. Long after participants return home, those bridges will continue to connect hearts, communities, and a shared commitment to serving others.