You've already heard about our new Building Project, but here are several facts that you might not be aware of. Haven't heard that the Children's Shelter of Cebu is building a new structure? Click here to find out more.
If you haven't heard about our new building, here is the basic gist of why we're building it: "In our 45-year history, our shelter faces an unprecedented challenge: a record number of older residents. To address this, we're expanding our programs and facilities, placing a strong emphasis on meeting the unique needs of these older teens and young adults" (the quote is from the build's webpage). You can find out more and even partner with us by giving a donation through the Shelter's official website here.
We're expanding our programs and facilities, placing a strong emphasis on meeting the unique needs of our older teens and young adults.
But what are some specific facts about the build that aren't common knowledge?
By The Numbers (That Matter)
When it comes to buildings, discussions often revolve around square footage (or square meters, for those outside of North America), number of rooms, cost, etc. But here are some numbers that, in my opinion, are the most important.
During the current (2023-2024) school year, CSC has:
15 children attending high school at the Evangelical Theological College of the Philippines
4 children attending high school at Bob Hughes Christian Academy
7 children attending senior high school (pre-college) at the University of Cebu
2 young adults attending college at Cebu Technical University (a young man studying animation, and a young woman who is studying engineering)
That's not to mention the number of other kids coming up behind them. Why are there so many older residents at CSC? The changing landscape of adoption means fewer and fewer kids are being adopted both domestically and internationally. However, all of us at CSC are committed to providing our kids with bright, beautiful, and God-honoring futures, whether that's with an adoptive family or as independent adults living and working in the Philippines. This building will help us do just that. We are strong advocates for adoption and alternative child care, and we are proud of all our kids. The new space will allow us to have more robust programs for our older residents, preparing them to live and work in Cebu. I would mention the number of kids that earn top marks in school and finish with honors, but I don't want to make too many of you out there jealous 😊 (hint, it's a lot of them!!!).
Partners
At CSC, we strive to be a ministry that provides for the holistic needs of all the kids that come through our doors. This building project is doing something similar, holistically caring for the community in ways that not many are aware of, and partnering with local business to magnify the project's impact.
First, we were able to partner with a local architecture firm, Archiglobal, who worked on the design for the new structure. Led by architects Yvette Ong Doguiles, Melanie Manlangit, and Chrislin Heyrosa, the team from Archiglobal did an amazing job taking our wish list of items and turning them into a beautiful, practical, and efficient design that met our goals, both programmatically and budgetarily.
In 2023, Archiglobal won the Asia Architecture Design Awards for both "Best Architecture Design Firm" and "Best Commerial Building Architectural Design." Founded by Principal Architect Michael P. Torres, their firm is responsible for creating amazing things around town, such as designing the Tops Redevelopment project. But according to Mike, his firm's project for the Children's Shelter of Cebu holds a very special place in their heart. It's their first time designing a building such as this; one that incorporates office space, dormitory/boarding-room space, apartments, living area, library/learning/training space, urban gardening, and much more. They also did their work at a substantial discount, for which we at CSC are eternally grateful.
Second, the bricks we're using to build the structure are designed and manufactured by Arbor Vitae and Green Antz Builders. Here are some facts about the bricks we're using:
The hollow blocks used for the walls, as well as the semi-pervious pavers used on the ground, are made from upscaled recycled plastics. These plastics were destined for land fills and/or the ocean but were collected and infused with low carbon aggregates to create an eco-friendly construction material.
These bricks, blocks, and pavers (called Ecobricks and Ecocasts) are engineered to be strong and durable with a unique interlocking pattern similar to LEGO, reducing build time while increasing build quality.
Ecobricks and Ecocasts have PSI 2-6x higher (up to 800 PSI) than that of a regular hollow block (170 PSI). This provides sturdier structures which can withstand storms and typhoons. They are also projected to reduce up to 29% of the installation time and labor costs versus traditional hollow blocks due to their ease of use and curing time.
The Philippines holds "the world's largest share of global plastic waste discarded into the ocean" as of 2019 according to earth.org. Not only will CSC's new building help to address this problem, the creation of Ecobricks also helps to empower communities that gather the plastic waste used in the bricks. Find out more about Green Antz Builders at their website.
Life in Cebu
When completed, the building will have two floors for our Independent Living Program, and one floor for our Semi-Independent Living Program. Why?
Well, the two floors for our Independent Living Program (one for boys and one for girls) are meant to simulate what it's like to live in a typical boarding house in Cebu. Most young adults, college kids, and young professionals (and even not-so-young adults) living in Cebu City will find themselves sharing a room in a boarding house or renting space as a "bed-spacer." In these settings, residents of a boarding house will have a shared kitchen, living area, and even restroom, with only the bedroom being private (or semi-private if you have a room-mate). Before our kids graduate to the Independent Living Program, they will already have training on how to prepare their own meals, keep a budget, commute, etc., but what the new building will provide them with is a very similar experience to adult life on their own. That way, when they graduate college and launch, they'll be better equipped to handle what the world throws at them.
Our Semi-Independent Living Program is designed for our long-term, special needs adults that will likely remain with us for the rest of their lives. Apartment units on the first floor will allow them to have as much independence as they are able, while remaining easily accessible to staff to help with some of their daily needs. This will allow them to pursue work and participate in activities that promote dignity and self-worth, like vocational training and Bible studies.
UPDATES
The pictures below show the latest progress of our building project. As of November, 2023, we've already begun structural work on the second floor. If all goes according to plan, the building construction will be fully completed by December 2024/January 2025.
Today is Giving Tuesday in America! If you're looking for a cause to partner with, please consider the Children's Shelter of Cebu. You can give directly to this building project on our website. God bless and Merry Christmas!
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