Nearly two years ago, Maranatha shared the story of a school in Santa Clara, Angola, where students had to meet under trees. The school, which was located on the property of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, had more than 400 students, but not a single classroom. This, however, was a common sight in Santa Clara. Most of the city’s schools were destroyed during the civil war, which ravaged the country for decades, and few campuses were ever rebuilt. So at many schools, children had to bring their own chairs to gather under trees for class.
In 2018, the scene in Santa Clara is dramatically different. Last year, Maranatha constructed a brand new Seventh-day Adventist School in Santa Clara. Instead of assembling outdoors and competing for attention and shade, children are in actual buildings with real desks and chairs that were not carried from home. ‘We praise the Lord and thank Maranatha for such a wonderful gift,’ said Emilio Cupua, treasurer of the Adventist Church in southern Angola. He said the families were especially grateful their children no longer have to sit outside.
The 18-classroom One-Day School was inaugurated on February 18, 2018. Currently, there are 536 primary and secondary students enrolled. It is the only Seventh-day Adventist school in Santa Clara.