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

Seven Matènwa graduates are now continuing their university education—fully supported for the year—thanks to this community.

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.

College Scholarships

Matènwa grads who've earned full-tuition scholarships need your help to cover costs like housing, meals, books, and more.

Support Matènwa programs

Down with Corona!

Jun 24, 2020

MCLC's staff is at it again! Check out another tune Aba Kowona (Get Rid of Corona) by Vagens.

Calling out to communities across La Gonave, this catchy number focuses on containing the virus. Vagens' song calls out all the preventative methods, like washing hands and wearing a mask, but also stresses staying alive and self-preservation. "Who doesn't want to live," he asks, as he reminds the population that no one is exempt.

Who wants to die/ before their time / the number of people killed by Corona/ we can't keep count/ on the hospital beds / you cannot even count on the doctor

More Stories

May 2015 Update

Dear friends of Matènwa, We hope that you are enjoying springtime and even doing some gardening yourselves, just as MCLC has been doing all year-round. […]...

The Women Artists of Matènwa: An Explanation of a Few Common Haitian Vodou Symbols

Atis Fanm Matènwa, or Women Artist Matènwa, is a longstanding Women’s Haitian Arts collective in the Matènwa community in La Gonave. Women from the 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 […]...