By Benedict Mukoni……………
TheSisters Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) executive Secretaries, together with delegates from 11 National Conferences/Associations of Women Religious, where African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC) operates, gathered together for a three-day workshop hosted by ASEC Uganda at Méstil Hotel, Kampala from January 12 – 14, 2025.
The workshop was convened under the theme, “Igniting Hope, Building Bridges, Creating Impact” which is the theme of ASEC’s 25th Anniversary marked in 2024.
The SLDI Executive Secretaries’ Convention was held with the intent to provide National Conferences/Associations of Women Religious Representatives with greater knowledge about ASEC as an organization and its different programs. It was also tailored to creating space for sharing and learning about SLDI implementation and to facilitate learning and networking among National Conference/Associations of women religious representatives.
SLDI provides sisters with training in technology, administration, and finance through three one-month workshops over three years. It is the largest and oldest running ASEC program. It also provides leadership training to Catholic Women Religious working in eleven countries in Africa.
The workshop begun with a celebration of Mass presided over by the President of the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU), Fr. John Bosco Kamoga C.S.Sp.
In his homily, Fr. Kamoga invited the Executive Secretaries and delegates of the different conferences to continue being prophetic as they ought to be, so that their relevance will be felt by the people they serve.
The Executive Director of ASEC, Sr. Draru Mary Cecilia, LSMIG, was also present and in her address, emphasized the importance of partnerships in order to avoid working in isolation. She also appealed to the National Conferences/Association of Women Religious to hold the ASEC alumnae in their respective countries accountable. Accountable because they have been given the necessary skills to help the Conferences especially in the areas of policy development, strategic planning, and other areas where the conferences may need help.
The Executive Director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religions in the USA, (LCWR) Sr. Dr. Carol Zinn, SSJ joined the workshop online via zoom and shared with the participants about the role of the National Conferences and how they can be a leverage for the congregations within a country; to do things differently and to reflect on common mission.
ASEC alumnae and its beneficiaries have created impact beyond the classroom of their ministries as witnessed by a number of vulnerable people it has touched. Many can now do something for self-sustainability through hands-on skills like, making briquettes, Rosaries, Shoes and improved methods of farming, mostly using available resources.
SLDI which commenced in 2007 has served 6,786 individuals so far and upon graduation from the program, sisters are gifted with a laptop to assist her in continuing the work at home and beyond.
