Close the Gap for Kids in Matènwa
After fleeing violence in Port-au-Prince, Cherica found safety, stability, and a place to learn at Matènwa.
You can ensure children like Cherica keep learning, families keep eating, and teachers keep teaching through another difficult year in Haiti. Your solidarity is critical in closing the gap for children and families in Matènwa.
Education That Belongs to Everyone
In a time when one in four children in Haiti are out of school, the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC) remains a place of safety, dignity, and possibility. Here on Lagonav Island, children learn in their own language, families grow their own food, and teachers lead with compassion—not fear.
For nearly 30 years, MCLC has shown what’s possible when education grows from local roots and communities are trusted to lead. Every day, students discover their own strength and potential—and the wider world begins to see what Haitian communities can achieve when they are empowered.
Your generosity helps make this model flourish. And the impact is growing.
Watch: A Day in the Life of an MCLC Student
What You Made Possible in 2025
Each number represents a child learning in safety, a teacher empowered to lead, and a family gaining the tools to thrive.
students enrolled this fall — the highest in MCLC’s history
teachers trained in nonviolent, native-language, participatory teaching
school directors mentored in compassionate, community-centered leadership
schools and families planted new organic vegetable gardens
rainwater tanks improved irrigation and productivity for families
Matènwa graduates began university studies in health, agriculture, and business
What we Do
Matènwa Community School
Matènwa is redefining what education in Haiti can be—where children learn in their own language through creativity, equality, and hands-on exploration that inspires confidence, curiosity, and lasting change.
Institute for Learning
The Institute for Learning is transforming education across Haiti. We've trained teachers at more than 120 schools to make learning joyful, peaceful, and rooted in rural life—while shaping the next generation of Haitian leaders.
Mother Tongue Books
Students are creating vibrant storybooks in Haitian Creole—now more than 2,000—awakening a love of reading and the power to tell their own stories with creativity, confidence, and imagination.
Creole Gardens
Matènwa’s Creole Gardens bring learning to life as students and their families grow food, care for the earth, and inspire thousands of others to farm organically and protect the island of Lagonav.
Summer Camp
Camp fills Matènwa with joy as hundreds of children and adults gather to sing, dance, create, and learn—celebrating local talent, building confidence, and renewing hope in tough times.
Art Matènwa
By turning natural and regionally sourced materials into vibrant works of art, Matènwa’s artisans create opportunities that educate, empower, and strengthen community life.
Why Matènwa?
Amid Haiti’s uncertainty, Matènwa offers something rare and powerful: a proven, community-led model that helps children learn, families grow food, and teachers lead with confidence.
MCLC works because it is rooted in the realities of rural Haitian life:
- Children learn in Haitian Creole, the only language all Haitians share—dramatically improving literacy and comprehension.
- Teachers use nonviolent, child-centered methods, replacing fear with curiosity and respect.
- Families grow home and school gardens, strengthening nutrition, resilience, and independence.
- Local leadership guides every decision, ensuring the work honors community wisdom and creates real, lasting change.
For nearly three decades, Matènwa has shown what’s possible when communities are trusted, supported, and empowered. And every gift helps this model reach more children across Lagonav and beyond.
Latest News From Matènwa
Matènwa Celebrates May Day
This May Day, Matènwa students celebrated the dignity of work and the critical role that agriculture and the environment play in our lives. They are our literal foundation. And because of your support, we gave students something real to take home on May 1. Students chose a sapling—avocado, mango, or lime—to plant in their yard.
What Belonging Looks Like in Matènwa
During my time in Matènwa, I saw exceptional teaching and creative classrooms. But what stayed with me most is the […]...
Matènwa Rhythm: Resourceful, Joyful, Unstoppable. 🥁
Creativity at it’s best! Gotta use what you got on hand! That’s the Matènwa Way. Thank you for supporting education […]...
VIDEO: The Strength Behind the Scholarship
This uplifting conversation, moderated by Chris Low, brings together Roselineda, a proud Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC) graduate now studying […]...
You can help change the future of education in Haiti.
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