Working Toward Clean Water for Four Communities
In the mountains above the Matènwa community on Lagonav Island, a place called Little Spring is a lifeline. Every day, families depend on this spring for the water they need to drink, cook, wash, and care for their homes. But getting that water is not simple. People must climb down a steep, rocky ravine, fill containers holding up to seven gallons, and carry them back uphill. The trip can take 30 minutes each way — and during drought periods, families from higher elevations may walk as long as two hours one way. The burden falls most heavily on women and girls, who are primarily responsible for collecting water. About one-third of the households in this area are led by women, making reliable access to water especially important for family stability and safety. (Photo: Local women and girls walk back up the steep and rocky path after collecting water from the spring.) What we hope to do If our recent grant application is approved, Friends of Matènwa and the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC) will install a solar-powered water pumping system to bring water from Little Spring up to road level. The project would: Serve approximately 800 people each day across four rural communities Pump water uphill using nine photovoltaic solar panels and a submersible solar pump Store water in a 1,600-gallon roadside tank Provide access through two water kiosks at road level This simple change would eliminate the dangerous daily climbs into the ravine and save hours of labor for families. […]
From Matènwa to the Frontlines of Care
By Williamson Jacques | Matènwa Community Learning Center At the Matènwa Community Learning Center, we often say that education is […]…
How the "Matènwa Way" Travels
This is my third week on Lagonav Island, and yesterday I got to see—up close—the Hub School initiative, a next […]…
What comes next . . .
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was clear about what justice meant. It wasn’t a theory or a slogan. It was […]…
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Newsletter 2022
View the 2022 Newsletter
Pam’s Art Exhibit for Matènwa!
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Pam Smith, our dedicated volunteer, long-time friend, and talented mixed media artist has an exhibit on display at Lexington Pierce Gallery through December 31, 2021. All proceeds from the sale […]