Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA)

ACWECA is an acronym of Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa. It is a regional religious body composed of National Associations of Sisters (Conference of Women Superior Generals) from nine (9) English speaking countries including; Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Named the Study Conference of Eastern Africa (SEAC) at its inception, the conference transformed its identity in 2002 to become a regional association in order to take care of its increasing membership demands. The Association is fully registered under the Society’s Act of the Republic of Kenya, from where the Secretariat of the Association has operated since 1988. History: Early in the 1960’s, the Sacred Congregation for the Religious in Rome expressed the passion that, each country would have a Conference of Women Religious Superiors. In response to the Holy See’s desire in 1973, women Institutes of Consecrated Life in Eastern and Central African countries sent representatives at national level to AMECEA conference upon receiving the invitation, to reflect on common issues pertaining Religious Life Spiritual formation and Apostolic Life of the Consecrated Women. The representatives were from four (4) Conference of Women Religious Superiors from Eastern and Central African countries, the Association of Sisterhood in Kenya (AOSK), the Tanzanian Catholic Association of Sisters (TCAS), the Zambian Association of Sisters (ZAS) and the Association of Religious Institutes in Malawi (ARIMA) by then now Association of Women in Religious Institutes of Malawi (AWRIM)  and by then they had Conferences that were already formed in their countries. Consequently at this meeting in Nairobi, it was recommended that regional meeting of religious women be convened to discuss their common concerns and aspirations and to deepen their religious commitments. Consequently in the same year, representatives of women religious institutes of consecrated life from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia independently met in Nairobi for the first time. In 1974 the Sisters met for the second time and they reflected on the theme “The Role of the Religious Women in Evangelization” by then they were called AMECEA Sisters, this time they invited ARU – Association of Sisters in Uganda. In 1980, they adopted for themselves the name «Sisters’ East Africa Study Conference» (SEASC). Through study conferences which were organized after every two or three years, aims and objectives of the SEASC became clear. These aims and objectives were articulated in the guidelines of the SEASC, later on, they became the Statutes.  The association continued to grow in Eastern and Central Africa English Speaking countries. In 1983, the Eritrean, Ethiopian and Sudanese Institutes of Women Consecrated Life became members of the SEASC while retaining their national memberships in the Joint National Associations (Men and Women). For various reasons, the delegates to the 12th Plenary Assembly (2002) decided that the SEASC becomes Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA). Following the 2010 secession of South Sudan from Sudan, the South Sudan Sisters Associations was recognized as an independent member of ACWECA in May 2013.  Currently, ACWECA comprises Women Institutes of Consecrated life from nine African English speaking countries namely; Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In order to make it easier for the Association to conduct its service for the Church according to its constitutions in the year 2007, its executive made a request to the Congregation for Institute of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLAS) for official recognition. ACWECA is a fully registered body under the societies of Kenya, under societies rule of 1968 No.4 of Kenya, Certificate of registration No. 23196and has a Secretariat in Kenya Vision Statement “Empowered Consecrated Women for Deeper Evangelization” The association envisions an empowered women religious and enhanced evangelization. It therefore, shall strive to promote the dignity of women religious and the vitality of religious and human life in Eastern and Central Africa. Mission: To promote the Spirit of Collaboration and Sharing of Spiritual, Human and Economic Recourses among Member Conferences to enhance Religious Formation, Strengthen Leadership Capacity for Deeper Evangelization. Objectives: -Formation and Mission Goal "Contribute to adequately prepared and strategically deployed consecrated Women witnessing Christ". -Family and Youth Goal "Contribute to strengthening the positioning the role of religious women for effective family and youth ministry". -Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Goal "Contribute to strengthened involvement of religious women in JPIC issues" -Organisation Development Goal "An organization that is competent and adequately resources capable of sustainability in delivering its mandate". -Monitoring and Evaluation at all levels Core values: ACWECA’s core values influence the organization’s decisions and priorities on its core business; guides its choices concerning its core business and partners; and how it goes about its core business. The Association shall endeavor to uphold a set of core values to guide all its undertaking and in delivering its mandate.These core values include: Prayer and witness to Christ: Prayer will remain the foundation of their life and ministry. They equally recognize the importance of evangelism and they strive to reach out to others in their words and deeds. Unity and Solidarity: They believe in empowerment through unity and Solidarity and will embrace aspects of these in decision making at all levels for collective responsibility. Integrity and Commitment: They will embrace the virtue of integrity in all their activities. They believe in excellence and dedication to their course. Transparency accountability: They will uphold honesty, accountability and transparency at all times and levels. Communion and Sharing: They believe in sharing of thoughts and feelings amongst them and with those that they serve.