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 […]…
Join our Newsletter!
Once a month you’ll get the very latest news from Matènwa and Lagonav Island
More Stories
Meet Janose: Fierce mother, excellent cook, unforgettable host!
If you’ve been to Matènwa and stayed with Janose Remedor, you would agree that she is an unforgettable host. On any regular day, Janose can be found cooking on the wood fire outside of her house, taking walks to her friends’ homes with her devoted dog, Chana, trailing…
Meet Dieudony Jeanphilippe!
Dieudony Jeanphilippe is one of MCLC’s 2018 graduates, having passed the 13th grade national exam in June. While speaking with Dieudony, his love for MCLC was evident. Up until the end of 6th grade, he attended his father’s primary school, which is just down the road…
Story Time!
During my visit to the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC), I observed Story Time with the 2nd graders! I had never seen anything like it. The students gathered around the carpeted area of the library by making themselves comfortable on benches and settled in for…
Meet Fania Bijoux, MCLC’s Valedictorian!
Fania Bijoux is one of the 10 students in MCLC’s 2018 graduating class that just passed the national (Philo) exam! In fact, she earned the classes’ highest score! Fania graduated at the top of her class, and has been offered a scholarship to study at Quisqueya in…
Bayo! Showing you the Real Haiti!
Our Own Strong G sings in BAYO I feel so proud of Strong G. He was just a teenager when volunteer Owen Thomas showed him how to use Garage Band on one of our new Apple computers that was part of our new Rotary International funded library. He started producing his own…
New Board Books!
Our mission to increase the number of Creole/English bilingual Mother Tongue Books has expanded into the world of board books for our youngest students! We partnered with Star Bright Books, a small publisher of bilingual board books, to translate 5 more of their books…
Hello Friends!
Hello Friends of Matenwa, My name is Krystel Pierre and I am the new administrator. I started at the beginning of March and it has been a blast and a challenge for me to get to know the people of the community, the school and the students. The people are very…
Do you have access to water?
For World Water Day, MCLC is trying to give more access water to as many families as possible. In Lagonav, a person uses an average of 2.5 gallons of water per day. Our main source of drinking water is a twenty-minute walk from the school. The school has some built in…
Celebrating The Global Day of Action!
See how Matènwa Students are working on the 2030 Sustainable D
Dance konsa! /Dance Like This!
Making a BEAT!
Behind the scenes. See how Beat Making Lab brought a team of talent, including and Michel Brun, to Matènwa to make music with some of the Matènwa high schoolers and our in house rapper Strong G. They created the music video Danse Konsa.
May 2017 Update
Friends of Matènwa, We’d like to fill you in on what we’ve been up to! Fly High! Thanks to Beyond Borders, the girls at the Matènwa Community Learning Center are flying kites. Each spring season, the skies of Haiti are full of bright, twirling creations but they are…
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 […]