By Karlheinz Neumann | Founder and Project Leader
For the past three and a half years, we have been supporting the Morning-Starlight School in Afikpo, Nigeria. The school is located on the premises of the Holyrock Mountain of Light Church, led by pastors Richard and Angela Awah. They provide the space, enabling children to access education within a small, personal school environment.
Step by Step Toward Better Learning Conditions
When our involvement began, the classrooms were unplastered, the floors were bare concrete, and the outdoor area was overgrown with bushes. Furthermore, water from a nearby creek would frequently flood the grounds.
Since then, we have achieved a great deal together: many of the walls have been plastered, some floors have been tiled, and new whiteboards have replaced old, damaged blackboards. Simple school desks and benches now provide a better learning environment. The outdoor area has been leveled, the stream has been partitioned off from the school grounds, and a playground has been set up. Additionally, an exterior wall and handrails on the stairs and balcony have been installed to enhance the children's safety.
While there is still work to be done, the improvements made so far have been a source of joy for both the students and the teachers.
A Successful Start to the New School Year
The 2025/2026 school year concluded successfully with 41 students. The new 2026/2027 school year is now underway. As is the case every year, new textbooks and teaching materials have been acquired to ensure that classes can run effectively and smoothly.
Because it is a private school, the license from the Nigerian Ministry of Education must be renewed on a regular basis. Another challenge is the high rate of inflation; consequently, the minimum salary for the teaching staff had to be doubled. Nevertheless, a teacher still earns only about 300-500 Euros per year.
What do the children learn?
The school provides care for children aged three to five in the nursery section, followed by primary school classes 1 through 6.
The nursery curriculum includes subjects such as English, writing, mathematics, science, social skills, health, creative arts, as well as rhymes and poems.
In the primary school, the curriculum expands to include subjects like English, mathematics, local Nigerian dialects, science, physical education, religion, history, and social studies. In grades 4 through 6, science instruction is further supplemented with technical content.
A major advantage of the Morning Starlight School is its manageable size. While public schools in Nigeria often educate more than 1,000 children, this school allows for more individualized attention. We aim to gradually increase the number of students – providing education to more children – without losing the school’s personal character.
Enabling a future, together
Over the past three and a half years, we have managed to make a real difference through many small steps. Even so, ongoing costs – such as teacher salaries, school supplies, the school license, and further improvements – remain a challenge.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters! Your help makes it possible to keep the school running, continuously improve learning conditions, and open up vital future prospects for children in Afikpo.
Thank you so much for walking this path with us!
By Karlheinz Neumann | Founder and Project Leader
By Karlheinz Neumann | Founder and Project Leader
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