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Award-winning production company Moirai Films premieres a powerful film chronicling the organisation’s mission to break the cycle of poverty in a single generation

For 25 years, Christel House International has achieved what many consider impossible: breaking the cycle of systemic poverty in just one generation. On April 23, this remarkable story reached the prestigious Electric Cinema at Soho House London, where a compelling new documentary chronicling the lives of Christel House students and graduates celebrated its world premiere to a capacity audience.

Distinguished attendees included Christel House President and CEO David Harris and board member Caron Chung, whose unwavering dedication to the organisation’s global mission has been pivotal to its expansion across multiple continents.

The 20-minute documentary was produced by Vanessa Lanci Porteous and Andrew Porteous, co-founders of the internationally acclaimed production company Moirai Films, and directed by Emmy Award winner Paul Burger alongside Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Michael Gomes.

The London premiere launches an ambitious three-city global tour, with screenings scheduled for Indianapolis on June 9 and New York on June 11. Christel House extends an open invitation to audiences, partners, and supporters to attend these upcoming premieres. Additionally, a feature-length 90-minute documentary is in development, with filming set to commence in early July.

One Generation. One School. One Outcome

The statistics are sobering: research indicates it can take up to 11 generations for a child born into the poorest 10% of society to reach average national income levels. Christel House is collapsing this timeline to a single generation.

Through comprehensive support including tuition-free education, daily meals, transportation, uniforms, textbooks, and healthcare, Christel House provides 18 years of holistic assistance—from kindergarten through five years of post-graduation college and career counselling. The organisation doesn’t simply educate children; it transforms entire family trajectories.

This proven model operates across India, South Africa, Mexico, Indianapolis, and Jamaica, with expansions underway in Colombia and Nepal. The documentary captures these transformative stories from around the globe.

Jamaica’s Inspiring Chapter

Among the film’s most compelling narratives is the story of Christel House Jamaica, which opened in 2020 in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, in St. Catherine Parish. The school now serves over 400 students from kindergarten through grade six. A significant milestone was reached in September 2025 when its new high school welcomed its inaugural grade seven class, marking both institutional growth and deepening community impact.

The school’s Jamaican co-founder and national ambassador is the Hon. Sally Porteous, whose collaborative work with Christel House International and the Jamaican government secured the essential public-private partnership, the Twickenham Park location, and scholarship contributions that brought the school to fruition. She remains a leading figure in Jamaican philanthropy and education.

For Andrew Porteous, whose heritage is deeply rooted in Jamaica, featuring Spanish Town on the global stage was essential.

“Jamaica has universal stories and brands the world needs to experience,” he explained. “That’s precisely what we’re here to accomplish.”

A Mission Worth Sharing

Christel House’s extraordinary story demanded to be told. With its model proven across six countries and a vision of ensuring every child has an opportunity in life, it represented an ideal subject for Moirai Films. Specialising in documentary, film, and advertising, the company has built its reputation on uncovering the human stories within larger missions.

“Our hope is straightforward,” explains producer Vanessa Lanci Porteous. “The more people who learn about Christel House, the greater support it receives, and the farther its reach extends. Every child globally deserves the opportunities Christel House provides. Witnessing and sharing these stories firsthand from each country has been transformative.”

The Christel House documentary represents one of several major projects currently in production at Moirai Films. The company is also producing a feature documentary following Jamaica’s national basketball team on their historic journey to the FIBA World Cup—a first for the nation. With NBA legend Carmelo Anthony attached as a producing partner, the film arrives at a pivotal moment in Jamaican basketball history.