Fire for God in the “land of a thousand volcanoes”
At the heart of Central America lies Nicaragua. The wealth of oil and gold deposits stands in stark contrast to the poverty of the population. The country is politically uneasy but currently in a phase of stabilization. Every second car in the cities is ready for the scrap heap; the ox and horse carts, by contrast, are in good condition.
High-spiritedness, warmth, discipline and diligence
AVC has been working in Nicaragua for decades. The activities covered range from supporting Christian churches and running kindergartens, schools and orphanages to help for the needy, including reconstructing many houses after the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Since that time, Gerhard and Ruth Mantei have been living in Nicaragua. The friendliness and high-spiritedness of Ruth as a Latin American with Gerhard’s German discipline and diligence make a remarkable combination. They have fire for God and a big heart for the children in Nicaragua.
Schools for the poorest children
No uniform, no admittance
Over 700 mostly destitute children attend our two schools in Santa Teresa and Masatepe. They are not admitted to other schools because they do not have the money for a school uniform: “No uniform, no admittance!”
- Someone who
- ... accepts children...
- ... without a uniform:
- Jesus
Schools with awards
The two schools have received awards from independent authorities on numerous occasions. They are given recognition for cleanliness, for the arrangement of the classrooms and for the pupils’ knowledge levels. In the final exams, their grades are far above the national average, permitting 80-90% of school-leavers to attend university (while the national average is 3-7%). It goes without saying that the teachers, with their loving dedication to the pupils, play a significant role.
- Awarded for...
- ... the school facilities...
- ... and the knowledge...
- ... of the pupils
School plus agricultural project
An agricultural project contributes to the schools by providing fruit and vegetables. The children’s receptiveness in lessons is thereby helped by means of additional nutrition full of vitamins.
School plus tailoring workshop
A tailoring workshop helps mothers to contribute to the support of their families by means of the skills they learn.
School with a focus on the future
The aim is increasingly for not only the pupils but also their families to be inspired to take on personal responsibility in order to escape from the misery of their current existence.
