ACWECA: Regional Body of Consecrated Women Launches Project to Strengthen Catholic Sisters’ Apostolates
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The regional body that brings together National Associations of Sisterhoods from Eastern and Central Africa, ACWECA, has launched a two-year project to support Religious women in their various ministries following the effect of Covid-19 pandemic which not only slowed down the development of most activities within the region concerned but also globally.
Narrating the intent of the Association to come up with the project, ACWECA’s Finance Officer Sr. Betty Grace Atim disclosed that the pandemic has disrupted many activities within the region hence the need to support the Sisters strengthen their ministries once again.
“We are aware that Covid-19 has brought a lot of challenges to all of us especially to our ministries. It is this effect that prompted the proposal for this project on how best we can support the Sisters in their ministries,” Sr. Atim shared with online participants including ACWECA board members and staff, National Associations chairpersons, and Secretaries General.
Even though the project will help boost the Sisters’ ministries across the region “to equip and empower the consecrated women’s ministries from 10 English speaking countries in Eastern and Central Africa” Sr. Atim who has worked in the Finance department for six years said, “It may be a drop in the ocean but better than nothing.”
According to Sr. Atim, the mission of ACWECA has adversely been affected in various areas including among others education sector, healthcare, orphans, and vulnerable groups.
“In education, the Sisters’ ministries always target poor communities who are highly dependent on benefits that accrue so as pay staff salary and manage operational costs in schools,” Sr. Atim disclosed adding that the inability to run these operations and maintain children in school due to financial constraints “has led to children being exposed to risks such as early marriages and human trafficking.”
In health ministry she said, “Sisters usually provide health care services in remote areas especially in informal settlements and with Covid-19 pandemic, the sick who frequent these facilities are affected by poverty due to loss of economic activities.”
She also underscored that the two-year project which runs from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023 aims to reignite and strengthen ministries of Catholic Sisters affected by Covid-19 pandemic and “enhance the capacity of health care service providers to overcome the pandemic effects, equip education managers and collaborators with skills and tools for sustainability services, promote resilience among pastoral and social workers for increased societal transformation and provide ongoing formation to consecrated women working in hardship areas.”
The objectives of the project funded by Conrad-Hilton Foundation will be realized through various activities such as conducting trainings to various groups on identified topics, provision of Personal Protective equipment (PPE’s), capacity building and increase access to oxygen supply by supporting one facility in each of the ten ACWECA countries including, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
At the same virtual session on Monday, September 27, ACWECA Coordinator of Leadership for Mission Sr. Christine Mwangi Wairimu shared on the progress of a project that commenced last year 2020, to support national associations in various activities including delivery of rigorous professional development program for women Religious who serve in senior leadership and decision-making positions, an activity conducted through “training of formation directors and Training of Trainers (ToT).”
The project meant to run for a period of three years also provides opportunities to Sisters to nurture quality of Religious vocation through sabbatical programs especially superiors in their last term of leadership and also capacity building to formation directors and those preparing for final vows.
According to Sr Christine, the project funded by Conrad-Hilton Foundation commenced in six ACWECA countries; Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Present at the meeting, ACWECA President Sr. Mary Cecilia Njeri the Superior General of the Little Sisters of St. Francis (LSOSF), appreciated the work of the sisters encouraging them to continue “reawakening the prophetic role of the Religious in different ACWECA countries.”
She further thanked Conrad Hilton Foundation for their continued support to empower Religious women in the region and for supporting their various project.
“I ask all National Associations to help the congregations meet the required standards for the launched project so they can benefit from the funds,” Sr. Njeri told the 24 online participants ass the end the session.
