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

Matènwa Poem | Powèm Matènwa

May 1, 2019

The little girl brown as a sapodilla The little girl with the musical name Treading lightly in Matènwa There where the world is turned inside out Where stones grow in the field

Is anyone at all listening

The little girl with the musical name She treads lightly in Matènwa Fighting things she can't forget Searching for things she cannot get Dreaming of tomorrow's promise O little girl Turn to the left Turn to the right

Is anyone at all listening

Where has the water gone And the birds And the trees The little girl She wants music She wants books She wants dreams

The little girl brown as a sapodilla Her name is written on a stone in the field But she embraces hope There is water somewhere A school somewhere Hope somewhere In Matènwa

Is anyone at all listening?

Michèle Voltaire Marcelin | Brooklyn 2019


Yon ti fi koulè sapoti Yon ti fi Non li tankou yon chante L ap mache nan Matènwa Ti pa li lejè lejè Sou yon tè ki vire lanvè landwat Sou yon tè se wòch ki pouse

Èske gen moun k ap koute

Yon ti fi Non li tankou yon chante L ap mache nan Matènwa Ti pa li lejè lejè L ap batay ak sa l pa ka bliye L ap chèche sal pa ka jwenn L ap reve ki pwomès demen pote O ti fi Vire a gòch Vire a dwat

Èske gen moun k ap koute

Kote dlo a pase Kote pye bwa Kote zwazo Ti fi sa Tèt li plen rèv Li vle mizik Li vle liv Li vle viv

Èske gen moun k ap koute

Yon ti fi koulè sapoti Non li ekri sou wòch nan solèy Men se ak lespwa l ap mache Yon jou fòk gen dlo Yon jou fòk gen lekòl Fòk gen lespwa Nan Matènwa

Èske gen moun k ap koute

Michèl Voltè Maslen - Bwouklin, 2019

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