Meet Emanuel House

Emanuel House (EH) is a school serving 200 children from many of the poorest families in Quisqueya, feeding them spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In addition to Bible study and education, children receive access to clean water, functioning bathrooms, and regular meals (breakfast, lunch, and a snack)—which they may not have access to at home.

Emanuel House especially stands out for its work with neurodiverse children, who constitute about 70% of its student body, training the community to care well for these special needs children and pairing this care with Bible classes. Additionally, they provide occupational, language, music, and art therapy to children.

For several years, Emanuel House has operated a community water program as an outreach to their neighbors. They have one of the only wells in town and have used it to bottle and sell clean water to the community. In addition to providing the residents of the town, several local sports teams, and people in outlying areas with safe, clean drinking water, the income from this project completely covers the school’s electricity costs and salaries for five of their full-time staff. Their water system has recently passed a governmental inspection and been granted permits to sell water across the country, with the goal of using the funds from these sales to provide funds for their community feeding program.

Emanuel House desires to see their community changed by the gospel and many brought to faith in Christ. They host a monthly community outreach, inviting the teachers, local pastors, musicians, staff, and high schoolers to meet on their basketball court for worship and a gospel message. They have also partnered with a local pastor, who is beginning a home visitation program with people they’ve connected with through the water program.

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, located in the Caribbean Sea between the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Haiti occupies the other third of the island.