Kenya

Sr. Lucia Ngaba, OP, shares how ASEC’s SLDI Basic Technology Workshop transformed her ability to serve her community through improved communication, organization, and creative contributions that strengthen her congregation’s mission.

Guided by ASEC connections and inspired leadership, Sr. Caroline Ngati, ASE, transformed barren land in Kenya into the thriving Dorothea Rescue Center, offering safety, education, and hope to vulnerable girls while enriching ASEC’s Service Learning experiences.

At the CERRA-Africa Global Research Network Symposium in Nairobi, Kenya, HESA alumnae and ASEC staff presented impactful research, highlighting the vital yet often-overlooked contributions of Catholic sisters to sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

Madilyn Grose, a sophomore in Art Therapy at Marywood University, used her creativity and compassion during ASEC’s 2024 Service Learning trip to Kenya, leaving a lasting impact on the children she served, and returning deeply changed by their kindness and strength.

Chestnut Hill College junior Isabella Schmeltzer reflected on her transformative 2024 Service Learning trip to Kenya, where she connected with students, shared teaching techniques, and gained a deeper understanding of culture, faith, and education.

As a nurse educator and national examiner in Kenya, Sr. Gertrude Muhatia, SMK, uses her ASEC-sponsored education to mentor students with compassion and professionalism—empowering the next generation of healthcare workers.

In Kenya, Sr. Georgette Sawadogo, DDS, is using her ASEC-sponsored education to fight youth unemployment by creating jobs and empowering young people, especially young mothers, through vocational training and social entrepreneurship.

Utilizing skills from her SLDI training, Sr. Lucy Kanjira Kirichia, RGS, a member of the first SLDI cohort in 2007, has expanded to serving over 1,600 individuals, demonstrating the profound impact of her dedication and the SLDI program on her community.

Sr. Elizabeth Wambui Gichuki, DHM uses the skills learned in the SLDI program to help over 3,000 children, their parents, as well as others.

At just 12 years old a Maasai girl captivated participants at the 2024 SLDI Partner Workshop and represented the impact delivered by ASEC sisters

On September 27, 2023 ASEC participant Sr. Josephine Muthoni Kwenga, SJT won a People’s Choice Award for her Sustainable Agriculture Project in Kenya.

Sr. Maria N. Isaya, a religious woman of the Institute of the Little Sisters of St. Francis in Tanzania, started her journey with ASEC in 2016 through the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA). Since then she has brought transformation to her community by using her skills to provide education to those in poverty, improving their overall quality of life.

“In 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history, but the rate of growth has slowed.” – IPCC Report on climate change.

Catholic sisters in Africa are using their education to dream up creative human development projects that help their local communities.

For Sr. Lucy, education has been the key to realizing the vision she had and fulling the mission of her Kenyan community.

Catholic sisters in Africa are using crop and animal farming to sustainably support their local communities.

Sr. Susan is using her education to feed her community through a successful, sustainable farm in rural Kenya.

Nuns provide guidance, motivation and support in their critical role as mentors, bringing to life the many benefits of mentorship in Africa.

The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood in Kenya and Nairobi now have reliable, renewable energy thanks Sr. Susan’s grantmaking skills.

Catholic sisters have become a critical component of emergency response among local African communities in crisis.

Sr. Norah is saving lives by providing preventative care and support services that reduce the spread and stigma of HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

Catholic sisters are creating and running programs to protect the children who are the most at-risk among Africa’s rapidly growing population.

ASEC alumnae implement programs and policies that protect and promote the welfare of children in Kenya, Ghana and Zambia.

After three Kenyan sisters received their training and education through ASEC, they needed ensure students’ needs were met holistically in order to successfully provide a formal education.

4 Catholic sisters whose service work is helping to prevent and reduce sexual and gender-based violence in Africa.

HESA participant Sr. Irene Kwena receives honors as top graduating student and valedictorian of her class at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Kenya.

HESA alumna Sr. Winnie provides food, shelter and a new chance at life to adolescent street boys in Kitale, Kenya.

African nuns are reaching major academic achievements while amplifying their influence on some of the biggest challenges facing African society.

Through education, Catholic sisters are becoming some of the top leaders bringing positive changes throughout Africa.

Catholic sisters are providing much needed health and wellness services throughout Africa.

Congregations of Catholic sisters in Africa are being strengthened from within through ASEC programs.

Catholic nuns from ASEC programs are using their educational training to support people with disabilities at facilities throughout Africa.

SLDI alumna collaborates with partners to implement an innovative water filtration process to remove fluoride and provide over 7,000 in Kasarani, Kenya with clean water.

Nuns in Africa are using their education to become change agents and forces multipliers of good by leading and supporting young women.

Sr. Ruth uses skills she learned in ASEC programs to be a role model and servant leader in her community.

Entrepreneurial Catholic sisters are building businesses across Africa to meet the needs of the poor and marginalized.

Srs. Gisele and Lucy are using the skills they learned in ASEC’s SLDI program to provide microloans for Kenyan women living in urban poverty.

Catholic Sisters in Africa are using education to empower women and work toward gender equality.

SLDI and HESA alumnae are at the forefront of social change and the promotion of justice, as they address injustice in their communities.

Catholic Nuns write grants and raise funds to support clean water projects in African communities.

Across Africa, Catholic nuns are providing help and hope for orphaned children facing psychosocial distress, economic hardship, withdrawal from school, malnutrition and illness.

Sisters are dedicated to solving the serious environmental issues facing Africa today, leaving the world in better condition than how they received it.

A lack of desks for school students remains a serious problem in rural areas in Kenya. But, Sr. Mary is changing that for students of Fr. Anthony Pagani Primary School.

Across Africa, Catholic Sisters battle educational poverty and so much more as they mold the minds of the future generation.

African Sisters are practicing sustainable agriculture and farming to solve problems like malnutrition and food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa.

HESA pilot nursing student achieves success as CEO of St. Francis Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

Catholic nuns in Africa receive quality education through ASEC, providing them with valuable nursing skills to improve healthcare in their communities.

HESA alumna Sr. Anne is providing opportunities for girls with mental and physical disabilities in Kenya so they can reach their true potential.

Sr. Lucy is using the skills she learned from ASEC’s SLDI program to sponsor and support orphans in Kenya in desperate need of quality education.

When Sr. Patricia finished ASEC’s SLDI program, she knew exactly how to use her new skills in basic technology, administration and leadership: to help orphaned and vulnerable children in Kenya living with HIV/AIDS.