ASEC - African Sisters Education Collaborative

Just 3 weeks until ASEC's Virtual Cup of Tea With Sisters! ☕

Have you ever wondered what life is like in Africa?

Join us on August 27 to hear firsthand from Catholic sisters serving in Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya. Learn about their ministries, the communities they serve, and the challenges and hope they witness every day.

Bring your favorite cup of tea (or coffee!) and stay for the live Q&A.

📅 Thursday, August 27
🕚 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. EDT

More details: https://asec-sldi.org/event/cup-of-tea-with-sisters

We can't wait to see you there!

ASEC equips Catholic sisters to respond to the needs of their communities.

ASEC HESA alumni Sr. Juliana Charik, MCESM, and her colleagues are helping protect students and promote health awareness in Uganda amid Ebola concerns near the DRC border.

Read her story:

Protecting Public Health: The Impact of Ebola Prevention Measures in Schools in Uganda | African Sisters Education Collaborative HESA alumni Sr. Juliana Charik, MCESM, and her colleagues are helping protect students and promote health awareness in Uganda amid Ebola concerns near the DRC border. Her story highlights the vital…

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we recognize the work of ASEC alumni who are creating safer communities through education.

Earlier this year, Sr. Grace Akunna John-Emezi, HHCJ, HESA program alumni, partnered with Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) to lead human trafficking awareness and online safety sessions for students in Eastern Nigeria. By helping students recognize warning signs, think critically about opportunities, and seek guidance from trusted adults, she equipped them with knowledge that can help protect their future.

At ASEC, we educate Catholic sisters in Africa so they can strengthen their leadership and respond to challenges facing their communities, including raising awareness about human trafficking. Learn more about ASEC at https://asec-sldi.org

A new academic journey is beginning!

ASEC’s HESA Online-Onsite students recently gathered for orientation, where they received their laptops to use in school and their crucial ministries, met fellow students, and connected with facilitators from Marywood University and Chestnut Hill College. We wish them every success as they begin this exciting chapter.

Through opportunities like HESA, ASEC educates Catholic sisters in Africa to strengthen their leadership capacity so they can provide services that address local and global challenges.

ASEC was proud to participate in the Regional Conference on Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home at Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya, in partnership with the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at Villanova University.

Dr. Mary L. Gautier, ASEC Board Chair, served as a keynote speaker and presenter, while Sr. Joyce Kwamboka Nyakwama, SSND, PhD, ASEC Country Director, Kenya, presented at the Conference and helped coordinate ASEC's participation in the event. Ten ASEC alumni and students also presented their research and shared their frontline work serving refugees, migrants, and vulnerable communities across Africa.

Together, ASEC leaders and alumni helped elevate the voices of Catholic sisters and contribute to the global conversation on migration, human dignity, and social justice. 🤝🌍

Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

This World Youth Skills Day, we celebrate Sr. Lucky Nambeye, SSHJM, and Sr. Felistus Mulenga, SSHJM, ASEC SLDI alumni, whose ministry at the Bauleni Special Needs Project in Zambia is helping students and children with disabilities build skills, confidence, and independence.

Their work is creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

Read their story: https://asec-sldi.org/sldi/ephphatha-be-opened-catholic-sisters-opening-pathways-to-learning-in

📅 Save the date! Join ASEC on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in Washington, DC, for a special evening celebrating the impact Catholic sisters are making across Africa!

We also invite mission partners to support this special event. Sponsorship opportunities are now available!

More details and registration information coming soon at:

The 6th ASEC Reception in Washington, DC | African Sisters Education Collaborative Join us on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, for an evening reception at the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States in Washington, DC. This special event will bring together supporters, partners, […]

Mark your calendars! ☕💙

Next month, you'll have the opportunity to hear firsthand from Catholic Sisters serving communities in Cameroon, Ghana, and Kenya. Join us for Cup of Tea With Sisters, a free virtual event where you'll learn about their ministries, the challenges they face, and the hope they bring every day.

Join us on Thursday, August 27, 11:00 a.m. EDT.

Learn more: https://asec-sldi.org/event/cup-of-tea-with-sisters

The Catholic Sisters Initiative Convening, hosted by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from June 10 to 12, 2026, brought together women religious, partners, and collaborators from around the world, including ASEC alumni and staff, to strengthen collaboration and cultivate shared impact.

ASEC was honored to have Joyce, an ASEC beneficiary, participate in the convening. She shared her personal story of how Catholic sisters changed the course of her life. ASEC alumni are changing lives and communities one person at a time.

ASEC Regional Directors, Sr. Lina and Sr. Francisca, presented posters on ASEC’s Hilton-funded programs, the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa (HESA) and Sisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) Programs.

In addition, representatives from the Hilton Foundation visited ASEC alumni, beneficiaries, and partners during their time in Tanzania. Visits included Bigwa Secondary School and Jordan University College (Salvatorian Institute of Philosophy & Theology), an ASEC partner for the HESA program. They also met with SLDI participants, HESA students, ASEC alumni beneficiaries, and the Tanzania Catholic Association of Sisters (TCAS).

ASEC is grateful for its continued partnership with the Hilton Foundation.