In Nicaragua, Adventist youth collect funds to help children with disabilities

A master guide collects donations for Teleton Nicaragua Foundation during a market visit in the Central part of Nicaragua earlier last month.  The foundation asked the Adventist Church to assist in collecting funds in their annual fundraising campaign to aid in the upkeep of centers and programs to help children with disabilities and special needs. Images from ADRA Nicaragua’s Facebook

January 8, 2016 | Managua, Nicaragua | IAD Staff

The Teleton Nicaragua Foundation, a well-known NGO which raises funds to help young people with disabilities, asked the Seventh-day Adventist Church to help collect funds in Nicaragua, earlier last month.

The foundation contacted church leaders to coordinate its young people from its pathfinder clubs, master guides and adventurer clubs, for the start of its annual fundraising campaign to benefit those with special needs. This is the first time such an organization has exclusively asked for the church’s assistance in the first phase of their collection campaign, church leaders said.

More than 2,000 young people in uniform carrying specially marked containers flocked city streets, entered businesses, market places, restaurants, and barbershops for two days last month to collect more than $150,000 Cordobas (6,000 USD), said Pastor Marvin Gomez, youth ministries director for the church in Nicaragua.

A pathfinder collects funds in a clothing store.

“This was a great opportunity for our young people to represent the church,” said Gomez. “They were eager to be part of this great initiative in favor of those with special needs.”

Church leaders were interviewed on national television before and during the telethon program as well as radio, and the print media.

“Through the many interviews, our leaders were asked about our church’s beliefs, our young people in colorful uniforms, as well as our initiatives and activities, so it was a tremendous opportunity for the church to have such direct contact with the public,” said Gomez.

The Adventist Church makes collections every year throughout communities in Nicaragua during the church’s annual ingathering campaign but to volunteer for this specific cause was important as well, added Gomez.

Teleton Nicaragua Foundation organizers congratulated church leaders for the well-run coordinated efforts that will help fund centers and service programs to children with disabilities across communities in the country.

Another large group of young people will be collecting funds for the Foundation in the south Atlantic region next month, Gomez said.

Gloria Loupiac contributed to this report