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Matènwa Community School

Children and teachers engage in hands-on education, critical thinking, and mutual respect.

Institute for Learning

Teacher training for schools seeking to find a more effective way to teach.

Mother Tongue Books

Empowering children to become literate by reading and writing in their native language.

Women’s Leadership Fund

Your support covers housing, meals, transportation, books, and basic supplies for Matènwa students at university

Creole Gardens

Students cultivate organic produce, practice environmental stewardship.

Summer Camp

Inspiring meaningful exchanges that strengthen community ties and inspire collaborative learning.

Art Matènwa

Nurturing creative expression by supporting women artisans.

Community Outreach

Help students and families care for elders and build lasting food security.

 

Support Matènwa Programs

News from Matènwa

How Matènwa celebrated International Women’s Day

Students gathered under the shade trees at MCLC to celebrate International Women’s Day and honor the women who keep the school running. Monday morning in Matènwa, the school courtyard filled with students gathering under the shade trees to celebrate International Women’s Day. Students formed a wide circle — hundreds of […]

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, […]…

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 […]…

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Once a month you’ll get the very latest news from Matènwa and Lagonav Island

More Stories

Murals at the Matènwa Community Learning Center

What comes next . . .

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was clear about what justice meant. It wasn’t a theory or a slogan. It was about dignity—the dignity of poor people, the dignity of children, the dignity of communities that had been told, again and again, that their lives mattered less….

A Surprise Welcome Home

A Surprise Welcome Home

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 is really about. Chris returned to Matènwa after a long absence. I traveled with her and Vince…

2025 Annual Newsletter

2025 Annual Newsletter

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 your generosity makes. View the 2025 Annual Newsletter

November 2025 Newsletter

November 2025 Newsletter

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 science project? The mix of excitement and patience as you waited for that first green sprout? At…

October 2025 Newsletter

October 2025 Newsletter

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. The photo above captures one of those joyful moments — a…

School Opens ENTHUSIASTICALLY!

School Opens ENTHUSIASTICALLY!

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 violence, insecurity, hunger, and uncertainty in Haiti. No matter what the political crisis…

Trying to figure out a way YOU can help Matènwa?

Trying to figure out a way YOU can help Matènwa?

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 sale of her art were fully donated to the Matènwa Community Learning Center…

The Story of the Matènwa Community Learning Center

The Story of the Matènwa Community Learning Center

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 a bilingual school —Haitian Creole and English— in the Cambridge Public School Department (CPSD). Given the…

It’s All Smiles in the High School!

It’s All Smiles in the High School!

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 way to Lagonav continues to be a challenge, but we managed to get the first 200 sent over as extra…

Murals at the Matènwa Community Learning Center

What comes next . . .

January 19, 2026

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was clear about what justice meant. It wasn’t a theory or a slogan. It was about dignity—the dignity of poor people, the dignity of children, […]

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