EMAS Canada is a Christian, interdenominational, charitable, non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Canada and in Hong Kong. Since 1948, EMAS has been involved with overseas healthcare initiatives by sending medical supplies and equipment to support church-related healthcare centers. Today, their work includes mobilizing healthcare professionals to provide education for national professionals and hands-on treatment of patients and surgery.

In 2002, EMAS extended its support to El-Shaddai Baptist Church which serves the community of Bon Repos in Port au Prince, Haiti. EMAS continued to support El-Shaddai Baptist Church after the passing of its founding pastor Saint-Hilaire Faniel in 2008 and the earthquake in 2010. The quake destroyed their church and school building but EMAS successfully raised funds to build a small, temporary church in the same location.

An EMI team visited Haiti in May 2010 and met with church elders and Dr. Pierre Plourde, representative of EMAS Canada. The team investigated a larger property and developed master plan options. With scarce resources, all aspects of the building and infrastructure design had to incorporate locally available materials, be buildable by local labour, and be maintainable by ministry staff or neighbourhood contractors.

A combination of mindful floor plan layouts by the architect, careful and clear construction detailing by the structural engineer, and a contractor determined to follow the plans and procure the best materials possible, help to ensure these new buildings will perform far better in both annual high wind and rain events and future earthquakes.

In their final report the EMI team provided the design for a multi-use ministry centre to include a church, classroom buildings for a school, and a community health clinic. The school buildings were completed first while the church, which is a hurricane shelter during annual storms, was constructed second. Fundraising is underway to complete the medical clinic.

For more information visit EMAS Canada.