The Christian faith is faith in Jesus Christ, through whom the relationship between God and man becomes well (healthy). Because of this gracious gift of a healthy relationship between a person and the triune God, a Christian seeks to have a relationship to others that also are loved by God and to live in a harmonious relationship with them. A practical faith points to the unique way of Jesus Christ.

In the ASCIM we live this faith which makes a person able to love others in a harmonious relationship.

Integrity is the correlation between the ideals a person may have and his adherence to them in his/her practical life. For a Christian this means that he identifies with him/herself, and this reflects in the practical ways that gracious gift is passed on to others in healthy relationships.

In the ASCIM we experience the integrity in how we live our daily lives together.

The marriage of a man and a woman are the basis of a healthy family. A healthy family is understood to be a structured and working family order that is lived out in a healthy environment.  Harmony in a family is very important for German speaking Mennonites and for the indigenous people. Indigenous people especially emphasize man's free will, and the German speaking Mennonites emphasize order and discipline.

In ASCIM we further the willingness to get to know each other's family ideals and to point to the biblical ideal family values in activities,   friendships, schools and counseling, as well as to live them out.

Tolerance is defined as the calm acceptance of diverse opinions or activities. Respect is defined as a form of giving value and attention to other people or institutions. Tolerant and respectful behavior excludes self-centered conduct.

In ASCIM we are conscious of the different cultures, traditions and the differing emphasis put on values. In our daily activities we consider this fact and we try to connect consciously in order to reach our goal by a mutual consensus.

Serenity it is a complete internal peace in which the person feels completely calm in the face of existing challenges. Serenity is a very high value in the German-Mennonite and in the indigenous culture.

In the ASCIM we practice serenity since it is a bridge for communication.

Honesty means to be sincere and truthful. It also includes being open and upright. It used to be that a person was considered to be honest if he/she didn't steal or lie. Today, we consider a person to be honest if he can acknowledge his weaknesses and correct his errors.

In the ASCIM we do our activities in an honest and sincere fashion, not only in the internal relationships, but also in external relationships.

Transparence is the free and open access to the processes of information and activities in order to be continually accountable. It is closely linked to the open communication between both parties: recipient and the person delivering the message.

In ASCIM we make our decisions and do our transactions in a comprehensible and easy to follow way so that they are accessible and transparent.

Punctuality means to keep a certain time limit or cut-off date. It is a term that goes hand in hand with reliability. Western societies have a more linear concept of time, closely linked with their concept of progress. Often times, completion or finishing at the right time is given more value than to the relationships of the persons involved in the transaction. Indigenous people see time more as a cycle in which interpersonal relationships are considered more important than keeping a certain time limit or finishing on time.

In the ASCIM we are growing in the area of reliability, with a basis in healthy personal relationships and a communication that always seeks what is best for progress.

A good work ethic means to do your chores, tasks and duties that pertain to your job   with care and diligence, dedication, energy, firmness, putting in your best efforts, to be dynamic and motivated. 

In the ASCIM we establish common platforms of work, even though there are different interpretations and definitions of what good work entails.

Sustainability is a principle of an action in which the economy does not reduce the possibilities for future generations. This principle demands that no more should be used than can be regenerated, grown or established again in the future.

For the ASCIM, sustainability refers not only to economy and production, but it has the three components: sustainability ecologically, economically and socially.

Ecological sustainability: there is no exploitation of nature

Economical sustainability: agricultural practices that can be used permanently

Social sustainability: the organization of a society that regulates its social tensions within limits and prevents major conflicts, promoting and facilitating solution possibilities through peaceful and civil means.

Responsibility consists in entrusting a task to a person (or a group of people) that then has the duty to complete the task.  It also means seeing the necessary duties of the moment and acting positively towards them.  It means to be accountable and accept the resulting consequences.

In the ASCIM we assume the responsibility of promoting and constructing a harmonious, sustainable intercultural coexistence.  

Social responsibility includes taking the concerns of the society and its environment in consideration when making decisions as an institution. This means assuming the responsibility to the individual and to the state.

 In the ASCIM we recognize the social needs of the coworkers and members in the way work is done and in making decisions and we react to the special needs in its surrounding.

Solidarity implies a selfless disposition toward others. It is an unconditional support of the neighbor, all the while keeping and protecting your own dignity.

In the ASCIM, solidarity is a lifestyle that allows for  integral development while protecting the dignity of the individual.

Trust is a subjective belief that the actions of others are honest. In general, trust is an essential basis for any cooperation. Trust is linked to responsibility in interactive situations. Trust is put on the actors of a certain activity and these have the responsibility to not abuse this trust.

In the ASCIM, trust is the base of any cooperation; it is formed and grown in interpersonal relationships.

Friendship is an affective relationship between people and is based on trust, liking, respect and companionship.

In the ASCIM we care about intercultural t friendships that are generated in the time of working together and in personal relationships.

By the year 2040, the indigenous communities associated with ASCIM will reach a 90% of social and economic independence and integration, corresponding and adequate   to the situation of the moment.

The ASCIM has a major participation in the consolidation of the harmonious intercultural coexistence in the Central Chaco.

The greater part of indigenous young people in the ASCIM is prepared for the economic challenges of their day and 3% of the indigenous population is able to manage an establishment or company.

The ASCIM mostly has skilled coworkers, trained professionally, who identify with the ASCIM.

The ASCIM has a centralized data base, up to date with the information of the various departments and their demographic situation.

The ASCIM has its headquarters in Yalve Sanga.

The image of ASCIM is at least as good as its organization.

Our Vision

Our vision is to see autonomous communities whose basic needs are met in harmonious coexistence on a basis of Christian values.

Our Mission:

The ASCIM promotes cooperation programs in education, health, economy and for social and spiritual orientation in the indigenous communities it works with, giving them an opportunity to grow into today's social and economic environment and thus encouraging harmonious intercultural coexistence.

Up to this date, ASCIM has been able to secure about 190.000 hectares of land properties   for indigenous communities and participate in the founding of 21 agricultural colonies.  The main objective of ASCIM is to accompany the indigenous communities of the Central Chaco in their social and economic integration by way of an integral and sustainable development.  This accompaniment was made possible through the cooperation of associates of german-mennonite background and the indigenous people in an agricultural production, in education, in the area of health and in the founding of a harmonious intercultural coexistence.

The various areas of activities of ASCIM are the following:

• Mentoring in the management of administration and bookkeeping of the economic activities of the indigenous community
• Mentoring in the development of agricultural activities in the indigenous communities
• Supervision of the primary and secondary schools in the indigenous communities of Zone 7
• Advancement of professional education for indigenous peoples
• Production of bilingual texts, adapted especially for indigenous schools
• Accompaniment of early childhood education, preschool and kindergarten of indigenous children
• Health services for indigenous peoples, development of an integral public health program
• Mentoring for the social organization of the indigenous communities
• Organization of educational courses for indigenous women, both technical and practical
• Social and cultural orientation towards an interethnic coexistence in the Central Chaco

In this process of mutual cooperation ASCIM seeks to sponsor an auspicious atmosphere for the development of a harmonious coexistence between the different ethnic people groups of the Central Chaco.

This cooperation is made possible by a formal agreement between the ASCIM and the interested indigenous community. The agreement is updated every year in the reunions of the corresponding authorities of each side. It differs between the communities according to the work areas in which the community solicits mentoring from ASCIM.

El modelo de relacionamiento para este proyecto de cooperación intercultural se basa en el modelo de la asociación participativa. Presupone la igualdad de las partes en la expresión de sus expectativas y ofertas de colaboración. Se negocia convenios de cooperación entre las partes. A un lado está la comunidad indígena, a quien le corresponde la iniciativa y la mayor parte de la gestión. Al otro lado está la ASCIM como organización cooperadora. Esta tiene una determinada predisposición de participar con recursos y servicios, siempre de acuerdo con su reglamento interno.

            La ASCIM anhela ser un ministerio orientado hacia el relacionamiento intercultural; por lo tanto se propone los siguientes enfoques puntuales:

The Association of Services within the Indigenous-Mennonite  Cooperation (Asociacion de Servicios de Cooperacion Indigena - Menonita) ASCIM, is a non-profit association   with legal status according to Act No. 37.174 since February 10, 1978, later  updated on  June 23, 1999 with          Act N. 3772. ASCIM is governed with a social by-law and by a valid legal set-up.

The Administration Council is made up of 1 representative Nivacle, 1 representative Enlhet, 1 representative of the Mennonite association, 1 representative of the Mennonite churches and 1 representative of the Mennonite missions association.

The ASCIM has a legal place of residence in Yalve Sanga, Chaco of Paraguay, and it offers its services throughout the Central Chaco. Chaco Central is the Chaco region 50 to 80 km from both sides of Highway No. 9 (called Carlos Antonio Lopez or Ruta Transchaco) and it is the zone from 350 to 450 kilometers from the capital city.

The main object of ASCIM is to accompany the indigenous communities of the Central Chaco in their socio-economic development, while at the same time respecting their own initiatives and responsibilities for each one of their communities. The internal issues of the indigenous communities are not part of the scope of responsibilities of the ASCIM; these should be resolved by the competent authorities of the indigenous people.

The ASCIM offers mentoring services in following areas:

• Diverse branches of production and economics, with a main emphasis on the development of the agricultural area
• Education and training, giving the younger indigenous generation an opportunity to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to participate in the socio-economic system that surrounds them.
• Health services, promoting primary care of illnesses generated by hygiene problems through  programs of prevention, development and healing.
• The formation of an internal social organization by the indigenous community
• The promotion of programs for women and children