Chronology

ASEC’s accomplishments in Africa parallel what the sisters did for the immigrant populations in the United States more than 100 years ago. Courageously, the founders of ASEC started with nothing, yet their trust in God and desire to support their colleagues in Africa has had far reaching effects.

Now viewing Partnerships

May 20: New Associate Member: Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA

March 29: New Associate Member: Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, Quebec, Canada

2019 Partnership Renewals, HESA Program
MOU Renewal University of Kisubi, Uganda / Rosemont College / ASEC (June)
FOR Renewal (4 years) Veritas University, Nigeria / ASEC (August)
FOR Renewal (4 years) Catholic University of Malawi / ASEC (September 18)
FOR Renewal (4 years) Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda / ASEC (October 8)

 

June 12: MOU Rosemont College / Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)
Hybrid: Online (Rosemont) / Onsite (CUEA) – Sisters in Kenya can transfer from Rosemont to CUEA Business Administration (Bachelor’s) program.

March 13: FOR Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB), Cameroon / ASEC

2018 Partnership Renewals, HESA Program
FOR Renewal (4 years) Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Kenya / ASEC (January 16)
FOR Renewal (4 years) St. Augustine University, Tanzania / ASEC (July)
FOR Renewal (4 years) Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) / ASEC (July)
FOR Renewal (4 years) Catholic University of South Sudan / ASEC (July)

 

 

October 15: MOU African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) / Jordan University College (JUCO)
Sisters can pursue their studies at JUCO beginning in Phase III of the HESA program

August 2: MOU Rosemont College / University of Kisubi
To expand the online-onsite Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offered by Rosemont College.

 

June: Partners Workshops in Kenya and Ghana
Three-day Partners Workshops took place in Kenya and Ghana, bringing together 70 key SLDI stakeholders to collaborate and prepare for the fifth phase of the program.

March: MOU Rosemont College / Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG)
To expand the online-onsite Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offered by Rosemont College.

September: FOR Renewal (4 years) Chemchemi Ya Uzima Institute / ASEC

 

MOU Rosemont College / Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG)

 

 

December 6: FOR Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate / ASEC
CARA and ASEC initiate a collaborative project of Visiting Scholars at CARA through a grant funded by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. ASEC identifies Catholic Sisters in Africa as candidates for the Visiting Scholar program and the selected Sister Scholar joins CARA’s research team for a six month fellowship in Washington, DC to develop her skills in applied research. Learn more…

 

September: The first SLDI Basic Technology training is held in Lesotho.
A computer lab is established and a coordinator is hired to support the programs in Lesotho. ASEC partners with Conference of Major Superiors, Lesotho.

 

July 05: 

MOU Rosemont College / Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) Bamenda
Hybrid: Online (Rosemont) / Onsite (CUCB)

June 14: FOR Monze program

June 14: FOR National University of Lesotho (NUL)

 

May 03: MOU Rosemont College / Veritas University College

April 05: FOR Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College-Berekum, Ghana

March 18: FOR Sacred Heart School of Nursing

March 10: FOR Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS)
electronic

March 07: FOR St. Francis Hospital Nsambya Training School
electronic

March 07: FOR Mwenge University College of Education (MWUCE) in Moshi
electronic

March 01: FOR Uganda Martyrs University (UMU)
electronic

December 17: FOR Regina Pacis University
During Sr. Jane site visit

December 14: FOR Zambia Catholic University (ZCU)
During Sr. Jane site visit

December 10: FOR Catholic University of Malawi
During Sr. Jane site visit

December 03: FOR Renewal (4 years) Tangaza University College / ASEC
Renewal from 2013 FOR

November 15: FOR Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) Bamenda / ASEC
During Sr. Jane site visit

September 24: MOU Chestnut Hill College / Veritas university College
Hybrid: Online (Chestnut Hill) / Onsite (Veritas)

September 01: FOR Veritas University College / ASEC
During Sr. Jane site visit

 

 

July 11: FOR Catholic University of Ghana (CUCG)
to serve sisters, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, and provide them with educational opportunities through CUCG

 

June 11: MOU Marywood University / Kisubi Borthers University College
Hybrid: Online (Marywood / Onsite (Kisubi)

January 20: FOR Chemchemi Ya Uzima Institute

January 20: FOR Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)

January 06: FOR Kisubi Brothers University College

 

January 06: MOU Marywood / Kisubi Brothers University College (KBUC)
Onsite Model, electronic signing

FOR Tangaza University College

FOR Catholic University of South Sudan

 

October 31: MOU Chestnut Hill College / Catholic University of Ghana (CUG)
Hybrid: Online (Chestnut Hill / Onsite (CUG)

July 25: FOR Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) / ASEC

 

September 02: MOU Marywood University / Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)
Hybrid: Online (Marywood / Onsite (CUEA)

Tanzania Conference Association of Sisters (TCAS) partners with ASEC
TCAS partners with ASEC to support the Bigwa School to upgrade to “A” level status in order to provide high school education to women religious. (This is the first step toward initiating ASEC’s Scholarship Program in 2012.)

ASEC’s accomplishments in Africa parallel what the sisters did for the immigrant populations in the United States more than 100 years ago. Courageously, the founders of ASEC started with nothing, yet their trust in God and desire to support their colleagues in Africa has had far reaching effects.

Now viewing Benchmarks

 

June 15-17: ASEC Holds SLDI Virtual Partners Workshop In Preparation For Phase VI
A three-day virtual workshop enabled staff and partners to collaboratively prepare for Phase VI of ASEC’s largest program.

June: ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the Scholarship Program
ASEC’s Scholarship Program expands to Lesotho to fund scholarships for secondary school and certificate-level education for sisters.

 

April 20: ASEC Participates in Marywood University’s Virtual Research Day
Marywood’s Virtual Research Day provides ASEC the opportunity to increase awareness of our mission among university students, faculty, staff and local community.

 

April 15-17: ASEC CoHosts Charism, Spirituality, Mission and Ministry Webinar with CARA
Through collaboration, ASEC and CARA facilitated a 3-day virtual webinar on Charism, Spirituality, Mission and Ministry for the representatives of National Conferences/Associations of women religious in ASEC’s 10 African countries of operation.

January 23: First Graduation of HESA-Sponsored Students in Cameroon
The first group of HESA-sponsored sisters (7 undergraduates and 2 masters students) graduate in Cameroon. This was also the first Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda graduation ceremony held in over four years due to the political crisis in the country.

 

ASEC initiates pilot phase of Ph.D. Scholarship Program
Two doctoral sister-students selected for the pilot phase of ASEC’s Ph.D. Scholarship Program to pursue doctoral degrees at ASEC partner institution, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

September 21-23 and 28-30: ASEC/CARA Host Inaugural International Consultative Research (ICR) Conference as Virtual Event
Researchers from Australia, Poland, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, India, Kenya, Cameroon, Lesotho, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and the United States were in attendance.

 

February 12: ASEC begins working in Ghana through the Scholarship Program
To support Catholic Sisters in Africa who are teaching children with special needs.

January 5: ASEC@20 Celebration held in Uganda
Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU) celebrate ASEC’s 20th anniversary.

November 5: ASEC@20 Celebration held at Chestnut Hill College
ASEC Founders Chestnut Hill College and the Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate ASEC’s 20th anniversary. Read more…

 

October 26: Bigwa Sisters Seminary Secondary School, Tanzania, receives “Most Improved Schools” award for high academic performance
Many sisters from ASEC’s Scholarship Program attend Bigwa.

October: First Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) Workshop held in Ghana
The Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program of ASEC is meant to support both the internal strength and the external service of National Conferences/Associations and congregations as they strive to positively impact human development.

 

September: ASEC initiates a pilot Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program in Ghana
The purpose of the Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) program is to strengthen and/or develop internal systems and structures that will improve the capacity and enhance the vitality, of institutes of Catholic sisters.

 

June 19-23: First HESA Partners Conference takes place in Kampala, Uganda
Sixty-eight representatives from 23 colleges and universities, 10 national associations of women religious and ASEC staff, participated.

 

The first SLDI Basic Technology training is held in South Sudan.
A computer lab is established. ASEC partners with Religious Superiors Association of South Sudan (RSASS).

ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the HESA program

ASEC begins working in Malawi and Zambia through the Scholarship Program

 

September: The first SLDI Basic Technology training is held in Lesotho.
A computer lab is established and a coordinator is hired to support the programs in Lesotho. ASEC partners with Conference of Major Superiors, Lesotho.

January: ASEC begins working in Malawi through the HESA program
Sisters study at Tangaza College in Kenya

ASEC begins working in Lesotho through the SLDI program

August: ASEC begins working in Cameroon through the HESA program
online at Chestnut Hill University

ASEC begins working in Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia through the HESA program

ASEC begins working in Malawi and South Sudan through the SLDI program

ASEC begins working in Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda through the HESA program

ASEC begins working in Cameroon through the SLDI program

ASEC begins working in Tanzania through the Scholarship Program
Provides two-year scholarships for women religious to complete high school or a college diploma. Initiated in 2012 to meet the unique educational needs expressed by sisters in Tanzania.

 

ASEC provides textbooks for students and provides stipends to support two teachers at Bigwa Secondary School

Construction of science lab at Bigwa Secondary School is completed
Chemistry, Biology and Physics lab

June: Sr. Jane Wakahiu LSOSF, Ph.D. appointed Executive Director of ASEC

ASEC begins working in Zambia through the SLDI program

 

ASEC Alumni Association Formed

ASEC initiates the Service Learning Program
Provides U.S. college students two-week service learning opportunities in Africa. The first service learning trips were to Morogoro, Tanzania to tutor students at the Bigwa Secondary School.

Jacquelyn Ernster, OSB, Ph.D. is appointed Executive Director of ASEC

ASEC begins working in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda through the SLDI program

Sr. Carol Jean, Chair of ASEC, and a team of ASEC board members meet with Steve Hilton to establish partnership and initiate SLDI program

ASEC obtains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

Sr. Anne Munley is appointed first Executive Director of ASEC
ASEC offices are established at Marywood University.

 

September: African sisters come to the U.S. for a Fall Conference
United States Conference, “Women Religious Bridge the Gap: Collaborative Education for Service,” hosted by ASEC. A total of 25 women religious from sub-Saharan African countries attend the two-week program at Chestnut Hill and Marywood University. Each participant is provided with a laptop. The sisters tour ASEC’s founding member institutions.

 

June: First computer labs and training centers established.
ASEC conducts site visits in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana. Meet with the Executive Committee of the religious congregations for each country, detailing and reviewing the program, clearly establishing accountabilities, learning of local issues and challenges, developing solutions and agreeing to next steps. Computer labs in Nairobi, Kenya and Cape Coast, Ghana were inspected.

ASEC, a momement geared towards supporting women religious in Africa, is inaugurated.

Needs assessment and site visit in Africa
ASEC’s founding members, together with national associations of women religious in Africa, conduct needs assessment and a site visit in Africa.