NEWS SUMMER 2018
BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says “Let the little children come to me....for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. Jesus loved, valued, and esteemed children. Recently, two EMI Canada teams returned from project trips focused on building a better tomorrow for children: Belize – K-12 School & Learning Centre Belize Christian Academy (BCA) is a K-12 school with a rich history in Central America, serving Belizean and international students. The vision of TeachBeyond, which operates BCA, is to renew and increase the capacity of the aging campus. Following a site investigation of existing facilities and infrastructure (water, sanitation, power) and meetings with ministry leaders and school administrators, the EMI team created a master plan, to be implemented in phases. Phasing is key to BCA continuing operations during construction and allows TeachBeyond to secure project funding in stages. This project enables BCA to serve more students in a safe and healthy environment. It also establishes a cohesive character for the school and provides zones for students of various ages, while bringing the campus together around its assembly and recreation facilities. Haiti – The Freedom Village Live Different, with Haitian church partner ASEEDH, has served the mountainside neighbourhood of Calvaire for many years, including establishing a school that is now a cornerstone of education in the area. In June, EMI Canada partnered with Live Different and ASEEDH to design a community - The Freedom Village - to be used as a headquarters and home for rescued young restavek girls, caught in the grips of slavery. The dramatic, mountainside location of The Freedom Village presented a unique challenge for the EMI team’s architects and engineers. The resulting master plan and infrastructure design incorporates creative solutions to this challenge while addressing safety concerns in this highly seismic location. The Freedom Village will provide girls with housing, food, counselling and basic life skills in a loving family-style environment. With this freedom and new opportunity, they will grow, learn, and impact their country for the better.