About Us

We initially made a visit to Emmanuel Ministries in India in June of 2007. While there we visited one of the Emmanuel Ministries outreach programs. The Calcutta Emmanuel School, a Christian, English Medium School founded in 1978. The school has a provisional ISCE certification and unlike other private schools in India, this one is free and is strictly for the poorest of the poor. After spending a fair amount of time at the school with both the staff and the students, we were so impressed with what God is doing through The Calcutta Emmanuel School that we formed Beyond the Horizon, a 501(c)(3), Maryland corporation to allow people from the United States to support the ministry. We match sponsors, such as you, with impoverished children who are just waiting for a chance.

All contributions to Beyond the Horizon are Tax-Deductible in the United States. We verify as a requirement of the 1993 Revenue Reconciliation Act that no goods or services of value were given to you for this contribution.

Vijayan and Premila Pavamani, as the founders of Emmanuel Ministries Kolkata, dreamed of giving marginalized and underprivileged children a chance in life. In 1978, with a handful of children from one of the worst slums in Kolkata, Vijayan started a little school. He invited children to an hour of songs and stories each day in the back room of a dilapidated building that was later condemned by the municipal authorities and abandoned. The children responded with great enthusiasm. Gradually, more formal lessons were introduced, giving the children access to education and opening a door of opportunity.

Over the next 3 years the numbers swelled to over 300, meeting in two shifts, with classes Nursery through 3.  However, for over 18 years The Calcutta Emmanuel School struggled without basic facilities or proper classrooms.

Well wishers like Compassion India, Samaritans Purse and individual friends and donors came forward and showed solidarity to the vision that “Each child is made in God's image, God's light should shine though the child to make him or her a complete human being and give back his or hers intrinsic value and worth”.

Then in 1997 The Calcutta Emmanuel School moved into a brand new four-story building. There is now space for all classes from Nursery – Class 10. The rights of admission are reserved for the poorest of the poor and there is no fee. The children are mostly slum dwellers - their parents work as vendors, laborers, rickshaw pullers, and maids. There are just over 450 students and a dedicated staff of teachers. The curriculum ensures academic excellence, enabling the pupils to develop all their talents and skills while allowing them to discover the potential that God has given them.

They love their school and consider it a great privilege to have been chosen to go there. Each day they get up early to travel by bus from the slum to the school, which is in another part of town. They are proud to wear their school uniform and they work hard to make the most of their opportunities; they appreciate our encouragement and support.