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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Profile from Meg – Roberne
I’m continuing to profile an LKM staff member, so you can get to know us better. This week’s staff member is Roberne Magloire, a member of LKM’s Direction Committee. Roberne was born in Matènwa and has lived here his whole life. He finished eleventh grade (in the…
February 2016 Update
February 2016 Dear friend of Matènwa, We are always pleased to update you on some of our program activities. Our weekly school assembly continues to be a big hit among students and staff. The performances are great and often carry important messages that students want…
A Visitor’s Reflection
This email just in from Chandi, a professor at University of Puerto Rico returning from Haiti. She teaches about creole languages and speaks Haitian Creole. She brought 3 students and a colleague from PaP with her to visit Matènwa last week as part of their visit in…
Update from Meg January 15, 2016
This has been a busy week in Matènwa. On Monday, LKM hosted a group of four visitors from the University of Puerto Rico: a linguistics professor who specializes in creoles, a Haitian graduate student in linguistics, and two undergraduates who are also studying…
Update from Meg – January, 2016
This afternoon, in our weekly teacher-training meeting, I showed some of the primary teachers how to play some of the games we have on our game shelf. A few of the games have instructions only in English, so many of the teachers didn’t know yet how to play them. We…
January 2016 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, Happy 2016! May this new year bring you success, health, and prosperity. Because of your support, we had a great 2015. Our students and teachers had all the didactic materials they needed to work. Students had a nutritious breakfast every…
Update from Meg – Library News
This week in Matènwa, we have some news from the school library. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been working on many improvements, both small and large. A translation of the Dewey Decimal System into Kreyòl, for easy access. We are making great progress on…
December 2015 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, On behalf of the entire MCLC community, we would like to wish you a happy holiday season and thank you once more for the great activities, that you make possible in Matènwa. This past spring, with support from The M.A.D. Girls, MCLC was able…
Update from Meg – November 13, 2015
Soon after I arrived in Matènwa in July, I had an interesting conversation with a teacher who was very surprised by how fast I could type. He asked if I could teach him how to type quickly like that. I soon learned that no one on the school staff had ever had the…
November, 2015 Update
Dear friends of Matènwa, We are pleased to present you with the latest update on our program activities. As we work to spread MCLC’s educational model to our partner schools, we want to keep sight of and improve within our school all the core elements that have…
Update from Meg – Testing Time at LKM
Egzamen/Tests This week, students at LKM, like their peers at schools all over Haiti, are taking tests. This is the “premyè kontwòl,” or first of four exam periods of the school year, as mandated by the Haitian Ministry of Education. However, the exams take place a…
Matènwa Flag Day, June 2015
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 […]