Until recent months, many of the Haitians living in tent cities were nervous about leaving them. After experiencing the death of loved ones, and perhaps their own narrow escapes, many were fearful that their damaged homes would collapse on top of them or that another earthquake would result in a repeat of that traumatic afternoon on January 12, 2010. As time has passed, these fears are now beginning to subside and Adoration Christian Centre is taking steps to provide the option of a safe residence to families in Cité-aux-Cayes and Cité Jeremie. Two hundred families whose homes were badly damaged by the earthquake in early 2010, many of whom are currently living in tent cities, will be going home.

Within the tented city.

A partnership between Adoration Christian Centre and Miyamoto, a “global earthquake and structural engineering firm,” began in recent months. The engineers of Miyamoto have developed a method which allows badly damaged homes in Haiti to be repaired using various reinforcement techniques (beams, block replacement, roof repair or replacement). Once Miyamoto has determined which homes need repair (“yellow” homes, as opposed to “red” homes which are beyond repair, and “green” homes which don’t need any repair), the owners and landlords of these homes are provided with the training and materials they need to make their homes safe again. Once the repairs are made, Miyamoto’s engineers confirm that the home is safe and structurally sound and then leave the homeowners to put the doors and windows back in place and to plaster the inside of the homes as they are able.

Damaged home deemed repairable.

Because Miyamoto’s strategy utilizes the skills and assets of local Haitians, they are a good fit for partnership with Word & Deed. They are as concerned about sustainable development and the encouragement of the skills and assets of indigenous Haitians as we are. In addition, the Yellow Housing Project Re-building Committee, comprised of church leaders and Adoration Christian School staff, are directing this initiative. Through their efforts they are encouraging active community involvement and, as representatives of the church, they are also building important relationships within the community in order to set the stage for the spreading of the Gospel.

Masonary students in training.

The cost of this project is $400,000 (an average of $2,000 per home).  In addition to disaster relief donations received by Word & Deed and CDIA (before it became Adoration Christian Centre) soon after the earthquake, the Canadian Reformed World Relief Fund (CRWRF) and several Reformed churches in South Africa will also be supporting the project.Your continued prayers and support are needed for this project as well all the Adoration Christian Centre as a whole.