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New Projects

Beirut, Lebanon, Children's Social Services Program
White Hutchinson has been selected to serve as program and design consultants to a new not-for-profit children's social services organization in Beirut, Lebanon called Children Interactive Community (CIC). It is being founded and funded by a group of businessmen from throughout the Arab world. CIC's mission will be to enhance the education and life skills of poor Arab child, including teaching tolerance and problem solving skills. The program will be neighborhood-based, emphasizing partnering with other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and the government. There are currently 150 NGO operating in the greater Beirut area. Beirut was chosen as the prototype location for the program, which will be introduced to all areas of the Arab world in a phased approach. Beirut is perhaps the most challenging social environment in the Middle East for development of such a program due to its wide multi-ethnic/religious diversity and continued division that still lingers after the 15-year civil war. Beirut's highly pluralistic population consists of various Muslim sects (including Sunni, Shi'ites and Druze) and Christian denominations (including Maronites, Greek Orthodox and various Catholic demoninations) as well as different ethnic groups including Armenians, Palestinians and Syrians. CIC will serve the lower socio-economic children and families of all ethnic-religious groups.

CIC's program will include home invention; a model childcare; development of neighborhood libraries, toy libraries and computer centers; assistance in capacity building for other NGOs that work with children; teacher and social worker training; development of neighborhood play and recreation facilities and enhancements to existing school environments and curricula. This comprehensive approach to children and their families will require partnering with the mosaic of NGO's, political and religious organizations and the government.

Research is still underway. Pilot programs will be launched in several months. CIC's new headquarters and training center is expected to be completed in two years.

White Hutchinson's was considered a perfect fit for CIC's needs due to our extensive and broad-based experience with the design and programming of children's edutainment, enrichment, learning and recreation facilities, our experience with both family and children's social service programs and not-for-profit organizations, and our cultural experience in the Middle East. Future issues of this eNewsletter will report on CIC's progress.

Lake County, Indiana, Children's Edutainment Center
The Lake County, Indiana, Parks Department has awarded White Hutchinson a contract to design and produce a $5-million children's play and discovery (edutainment) center at Three Rivers Park in Lake Station, Indiana. The park is in the far northwest corner of Indiana and considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area. This will be the world's first municipal-owned and operated children's edutainment center.

The center overlooks a 42-acre lake and will include a 20,000-square-foot building, an adventure play garden, a water playground, children's real fishing and an outdoor wetlands nature learning area. The center's brand and theme will be based on creative art and earth stewardship.

Grace Community Bible Church, Houston, Texas
White Hutchinson has been awarded a contract to develop a master plan for expansion of the Grace Community Bible Church's campus in Richland, Texas, with particular emphasis on its Jubilation children's edutainment alternative to traditional Sunday school. The planning will also include development of an outdoor children's discovery center with a Bible-based theme that will be open week-long to moms, children and families in the surrounding communities. The children's discovery center will be part of an evangelistic program to reach families with younger children. Early in 2003, we conducted an evaluation, market study and recommended development program report for the church. Over the past years, Rev. Keith Bowers has spearheaded Grace Community Bible Church's innovative programs. He is recognized as one of the country's leading religious authorities on the development of alternative church programs that are relevant to and attract contemporary families. We feel very honored to be able to collaborate and work with Rev. Bower and his congregation on the development of their trend-setting facilities and programs.

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