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
October 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, It is always a joy to send you new updates of all the different activities that are happening at the school. September 5th, 2016 was the official dateset by the government for all schools across the country to open. As usual for MCLC, from the…
September Update 2016
Dear friends of Matènwa, It is with extreme pleasure that the Matènwa staff, students, and parents get to share with you this past month’s activities. Making more space! Our student numbers are growing as we welcome 12th graders this year! All of the art huts are…
August Update 2016
Dear friends of Matènwa, Final exams are done, and school is out for summer! Thanks to your support, we completed another successful school year, here in Matènwa. Some of our students are currently in summer school for an extra boost in areas of weakness for a smooth…
Jacmel Teachers Return to Matènwa’s Institute of Learning
Bonjour, This is about the last CCH trip to Matènwa and what happened when the team got back to their schools in Jacmel. We sent a principal with the teachers and our new CCH Education Liaison, Dave Pierre. Dave started to work for CCH in February. He has been one of…
June 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, Picture this: It’s the 18th of May, Haitian Flag Day, and the streets of Matènwa are filled with the sounds of MCLC students and teachers marching and singing about their flag. “My flag, my flag, my beautiful flag!” Created by Dessalines, sewn…
May 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, Integrated learning is thriving at MCLC! Using agricultural activities to teach subjects such as math, science, language and art has become an integral part of the learning process. In a recent lesson on seedling development following…
Update from Meg/Profile of Abner
Starting this week, older elementary students have been reading with younger ones at LKM once a week in our new Reading Buddies program. This program is a natural fit for Lagonav, where older and younger children often gravitate toward each other in play and learning….
April 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, MCLC is continually seeking new ways to improve its programs and make learning more fun and collaborative. In this spirit, we are using paired reading to help increase fluency among students and promote peer collaboration. Students of…
March 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, Students are always excited to work in the garden and go to the library. Here are the third graders (pictured left) creating a new vegetable garden. Together with the garden technician, they discuss the shape and dimensions of the garden….
Update from Meg – March 2016
Maureen Plaisimond, MCLC’s newest long-term volunteer, arrived in February and has quickly taken charge of our computer lab and elementary computer classes. As well as being open for regular classes, the lab is now open during recess every day for elementary students…
Update from Meg
Last week we had three days off school for Kanaval (Carnaval). During the break, Cenel Louis, Chris Low, and I attended a workshop for English teachers in Ansagalè. Cenel is the English teacher for LKM’s secondary school, and I often work alongside him in the…
Update from Meg
This week, tenth-graders in Matènwa have started to learn a new subject! In our secondary-school teacher meeting last Saturday, we discussed a scheduling problem that had led to our tenth-grade class having a two-hour block on Fridays with no teacher. Some of the…
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 […]