Brief history of FDAP
Believing the Lord called them to start a School, Tony and Teresa Bergen took a step of faith in 2020 with no resources besides their preparation and started the process of registering a new elementary school in Loma Plata, Paraguay. Before this, both Tony and Teresa had been teaching for several years at local schools. Tony had obtained a Bachelor of Theology, Postgraduate in Secondary Education and a Master of Education with an emphasis on research and Teresa a Bachelor of Theology, University Didactics and a master’s degree in education with emphasis on research.
Building a Bible based Active School had been a dream of theirs for many years, believing it would be the most effective way they could use their gifting to teach and administrate to impact our community and beyond with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Besides that, they saw an ever-increasing need for schools in general and especially for bible-based schools in the area due to a growth rate the current schools were not keeping up with (and still are not).
With much prayer support from friends and family and the Lord’s favor, the CDA (Centro de Desarrollo Activo – Center for Active Development) school was granted its rights to operate by the Paraguayan Government just in time to start their first year in February of 2021. The church family behind Tony and Teresa generously offered their building and land for the purpose of the school at no cost.
Once established and running, Tony and Teresa knew they were going to need a team of like-minded people to support this ministry. This is where FDAP (Fundación Desarrollo Activo Paraguay – Paraguayan Foundation for Active Development) was born. Together with a long-time coach and friend Dr. Gustav Friesen and several local businessmen and teachers, a strong and united team was formed to start the foundation that would take on the school as its own and endeavor to grow the school from pre-kindergarten grades to university level education over the coming decades. Besides the school of which Teresa Bergen is taking the lead, the Foundation also has projects in the areas of continuous education (workshops, courses, etc. for adults and especially for teachers) with Gustav Friesen leading these and scientific research for which Tony Bergen is responsible; all areas for which the Foundation has received its full approval from the Paraguayan Government.
FDAP received its approval towards the end of 2023 and is now run by a Board of 3 members with the following positions: Teresa Bergen as the president, Tony Bergen as secretary and Jerry Reimer as financial and resource administrator. Further it has an Assembly of 7 members including Gustav Friesen as the fundraising director and administrative assistant, Jeffry Wiebe, Marco Kauenhowen, Ingrid Kauenhowen and the board members as mentioned above.
Currently the CDA school has 42 students between pre-kindergarten and third grade, 6 teachers and a part time secretary.
Our Vision
To be a leading Foundation in quality and active Bible based education that inspires, equips and empowers people of all ages and social status to become all who God created them to be.
Our Mission
To provide a high standard of active education (education taught with example and application) to our students, participants and members, guiding and equipping them in their strengths and talents through schools, courses, coaching, scientific research and most of all through the example of a Christlike character, offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to God and to people.
Objectives and Goals
The FDAP is committed to helping the CDA school with the financial resources it takes to cover the costs for its operations which includes the costs of ongoing training and equipping the teachers.
Through sponsorships the Foundation will seek to cover the full cost of at least 20 more students in 2025 so that families with lower income will have the opportunity to send their kids to a school where they will receive the gospel and quality education.
CDA will seek to add one grade per year, allowing its first students to continue their studies all the way through to college. For this, more building space will be needed each year. For 2025 the Foundation is looking to build the first of two stages of a new school unit which will hold three classrooms, a library, two bathrooms and a storage room. This is a much-needed building since the school is currently out of space and already using the future kitchen as a classroom.
For 2026 the second stage is to be built and from there on replicas of the first unit will be built as needed (See pictures bellow for reference).
The FDAP will also make an effort to create strategic partnerships with local and international organizations that carry a compatible mandate in order to strengthen and be strengthened by united efforts to reach the goals the Lord has laid on our hearts.
Why partner with FDAP
As a Foundation, we believe in creating strategic partnerships with organizations, businesses and individuals that carry the same moral principles, values and goals. There is synergy in joint efforts and FDAP is all about connecting uniting the body of Christ to become as effective as we can with the resources the good Lord has entrusted us with.
Contact information
Name: Fundación Desarrollo Activo Paraguay (FDAP)
Address: Doctor Manuel Gondra Nº 1180, Loma Plata, Boquerón, Paraguay
Phone & Email: +595 981 807 047 / jerryreimer@fdapy.org
Website: fdapy.org (currently under construction)
