Webinar Recap: Sisters Impacting Education Worldwide

On September 23, Sr. Irene O'Neill hosted SRW’s second Peace Talks webinar entitled, "Sisters Transforming Education Worldwide”. The event highlighted how direct investment from donors to PeaceRoom projects equip Sisters to solve urgent community challenges related to education.

Sr. Irene opened the discussion by welcoming donors and PeaceRoom Sisters in attendance, and introduced the two Sister panelists whose lives and ministries demonstrate the transformative power of education: Sr. Mūmbi Kīgūtha, CPPS, and Sr. Swapna Devasia, Sister of St. Joseph of Lyon.

Sr. Mūmbi serves as president of Friends in Solidarity in South Sudan. She detailed the struggles of operating in a nation recovering from civil conflict. With an SRW grant, her organization launched an in-service teacher training program—funding furniture, tutor stipends, and transportation—to help address a shortage of trained educators. She emphasized the importance of community integration, practical care, and adapting curricula to fit local realities rather than relying on out-of-touch global standards.

Sr. Swapna serves communities in the tea plantation regions of Northeast India. She described how poverty and understaffed schools leave local children behind. Supported by her SRW grant, her team established learning support centers, open-schooling programs for dropouts, and vocational training. She also highlighted how SRW provided swift rapid disaster relief during severe local flooding, supplying food, shelter repair materials, seeds, and small business support to roughly 600 people.

Both Sisters emphasized that effective education requires a community-based, holistic approach that addresses basic human needs like nutrition alongside academic instruction. Sr. Swapna shared, “Every community's need is different. So when we go anywhere, what we have to do is observe people with our eyes, with our heart, with whatever senses we have, so that we can get their pulse - what they feel, what they need. With that, when we design [our programs], it will be successful.”

When asked what their communities would look like without Sisters, Sr. Mūmbi noted that educational institutions in South Sudan would become impersonal, with less community focus. Beyond formal schooling, Sisters provide emotional healing from trauma, and even teach basic social etiquette. “Sisters are teaching these little things that sometimes you take for granted, but make such a difference in building relationships and building community,” she said. “I've met some of our students when they are new, and they say, we have never been in a place where everybody says good morning, and thank you, and please, and all that.”

Sr. Swapna explained that without Sisters’ intervention in India, dropout rates in her community would soar, and human trafficking would claim more vulnerable youth. In addition to providing education, Sister programs in her community empower even young children to write and perform plays educating their communities about human trafficking risks and basic rights.

The PeaceTalks session ended with a Q&A from the audience where the Sisters were asked more about their congregations and managing their busy schedules. When asked what they loved most about being Sisters, Sr. Swapna cited the joy of seeing lives transformed and of learning new languages to communicate directly with local families. Sr. Mumbi highlighted the global, supportive network of Sisters she is a part of, and the unique fulfillment of serving where the need is greatest.

SRW’s next Peace Talks webinar will take place in December. If you haven’t already, please become a donor to ensure you receive an invitation.