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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More Stories
Recycling at MCLC
Climate change is happening NOW and negatively affecting our planet! Many organizations are engaging in recycling programs, for example, Converse, 4Ocean, and, of course, MCLC. Converse is apparently instituting a new “Converse Renew” recycling option for all of its…
Camp at MCLC
I recall going to camp in my village of Petion-Ville, Haiti as a kid, and honestly, I wasn’t a fan. I was just very shy, and, as one gets older, it gets boring. Camp activities (from what I remember) included, tennis, soccer, swimming (in a pool, not a lake), arts…
Open Space and What it Means at MCLC
Once every month, everyone who donates to our organization, receives a letter highlighting what is going on at the Matènwa Community Learning Center. In May we discussed Open Space and what it means at MCLC. Open Space is, “a method for organizing meetings in which…
The Education System in Haiti
This week, I attended the Haitian Ladies Network “Summer Meetup” at the Doña Habana restaurant in Boston. HLN is a community organization founded by Nadine Duplessy Kearns and is headquartered in Washington D.C. The purpose of the event was to connect women of Haitian…
The Education System in Haiti
This week, I attended the Haitian Ladies Network “Summer Meetup” at the Doña Habana restaurant in Boston. HLN is a community organization founded by Nadine Duplessy Kearns and is headquartered in Washington D.C. The purpose of the event was to connect women of Haitian…
Summer Camp Is On Its Way!
School is almost over, but the Matènwa Community Learning Center is gearing up for its 9th annual summer camp. We have planned a range of activities for 300 participants of all ages— students from preschool through high school, MCLC teachers, and even adults from…
Matènwa Poem | Powèm Matènwa
The little girl brown as a sapodilla The little girl with the musical name Treading lightly in Matènwa There where the world is turned inside out Where stones grow in the field Is anyone at all listening The little girl with the musical name She treads lightly in…
Water is Flowing!
Water IS flowing! The trench from the deep well to the school is dug; eight solar panels, a 3000-gallon fiberglass chateau on a raised platform, and two water fountain stations are all in place. Pumps and rubber piping have been installed, so that water now travels up…
Congratulations Louiseda Sumé
Last year we were proud to announce 83% of our first ever graduating class passed the National exams. Only 37% of students passed these exams nation-wide. Now we are beyond pleased to share an update: 92% of our students passed the National exams! Li se yon fyète ni…
Happy New Year!
We hope the new year greeted you as warmly as it greeted us,—with a satisfying bowl of soup joumou! On January 1st, 1804 Haiti became the first independent nation and the only nation in the world to be established as a result of a successful slave revolt. In…
Water
The average American uses 17 gallons of water per shower. We also use gallons of water to wash our faces, teeth, dishes, clothes, dogs, and once in a while even our cars. We flush away even more gallons of water. Access to clean water is something most of us take for…
Learn about the MCLC Gardens!
It is no secret that one of MCLC’s most popular classes is gardening. The students love all of their other special classes as well: woodworking, music, gym, and computer science. Even though these specials are part of the national curriculum, they are not typically…
A Surprise Welcome Home
January 15, 2026
A reminder of what life is really about. Welcome home, Chris! Yesterday, I witnessed something that touched me deeply — a moment that felt like a reminder of what life […]
2025 Annual Newsletter
December 8, 2025
Step inside MCLC and meet the students and teachers whose stories of perseverance will stay with you. You’ll see what hope looks like, how it grows, and the difference that […]
November 2025 Newsletter
November 22, 2025
Francia’s first graders learning to plant seeds in the school garden. Do you remember the first time you planted a seed — maybe in your family’s garden or a school […]
October 2025 Newsletter
October 12, 2025
Classrooms where children grow curious instead of fearful and confident instead of silent. Classrooms that embrace dignity, equality, and a lot of creative play — because joy is part of justice too. […]
Newsletter 2024
November 30, 2024
School Opens ENTHUSIASTICALLY!
December 7, 2023
I’m so happy to share this video. It was a joyful first day of school at the Matènwa Community Learning Center. They successfully opened their doors on-time despite the growing […]
Newsletter 2023
November 30, 2023
Trying to figure out a way YOU can help Matènwa?
February 1, 2023
Pam Smith, our dedicated volunteer, long-time friend, and talented mixed media artist had an exhibit on display at Lexington Pierce Gallery November and December of 2021. All proceeds from the […]
The Story of the Matènwa Community Learning Center
February 1, 2023
Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child. How do you build a school? For Chris Low, it started with a simple pencil. Chris Low used to teach at […]
It's All Smiles in the High School!
January 31, 2023
Back packs were ordered for all students and staff with the school’s LKMPD logo printed on the front. Given the situation in Haiti, getting all 380 back packs all the […]
Newsletter 2022
November 30, 2022
Pam's Art Exhibit for Matènwa!
December 15, 2021
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 […]