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Monthly Updates

Monthly Updates from Chris and Abner

February 2012 Update

Feb 9th, 2012
by Joanne.
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Dear Friends of Maténwa,


 

MCLC’s mission is not only to empower the children of Haiti, but also to encourage young adults to realize their ability to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.  Being creative entrepreneurs, this roller skating club organized a two day fundraiser called SK8 FOR MATENWA, mixing fun with charitable giving.

 

Socios en Salud (Partners in Health) in the Dominican Republic facilitated a donation from Alcatel One Touch. The MCLC children were thrilled to get musical instruments, computers, solar batteries, an inverter, and school supplies.

Donations from Goons (somethingawful.com) continue to roll in.  Many of them are students giving up a coffee run once a week to feed a student.  5 dollars buys 5 student breakfasts.  This Internet forum has amazed us.

Thanks to all our supporters, you make us feel proud and energized,

Chris W. Low, Co-founder MCLC

Executive Director, Friends of Matènwa

November Update

Nov 10th, 2011
by Joanne.
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November 2011

Dear Matènwa supporters,

The year has begun with much enthusiasm as we embark on “Joining Education and Agriculture” in 11 schools. The teachers from these pilot classrooms came to Matènwa  to witness how LKM teachers work with students in and out of the classroom. This learning group has begun to be led through our Reflection Circles and Education Is A Conversation: Child Rights modules.

 

Teachers are also learning how to make lessons more concrete and hands on.

 

 

   
Officially Haitian schools opened in October.  LKM teachers handed out materials to Parents who signed contracts to take responsibility for school books on loan to their children. 

 

 

Sincerely,

Chris W. Low Executvie Director Friends of Matènwa

Anes Batisma Librarian Lek`øl Kominotè Matènwa (at MCLC)

September Update

Sep 24th, 2011
by Joanne.
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Dear Friends of Matènwa,

Here are pictures of one of the 10 family vegetable gardens. This Water and Gardens Project was started in May 2011 as part of our larger agricultural program to promote vegetable gardens at homes and schools in several communities on Lagonav.

   

 

Abner writes:  Good afternoon all supporters of vegetable gardens on Lagonav.  It is a pleasure to show you how the gardens are reaching several corners of Lagonav.  We thank you for how you have helped us with seed and money and visits to learn from other gardeners.  We are now harvesting tomatoes, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and a variety of other vegetables.

One family sold 400 gourdes worth of carrots in one day.  Many people are especially motivated to make vegetable gardens this year.   We believe it is thanks to your support that we are progressing with so many people on the island.  Thank you for your help.

 On Teacher Training:   this summer Connie Biewald gave a writing workshop, and Jennifer Hogan gave a mathematics workshop in our new beautiful training space

On the Arts:  Ingleed Auguste gave dance classes and Owen Thomas continued his work with the advancing BGS youth music group.

Sincerely, Chris W. Low

August Update

Aug 21st, 2011
by Joanne.
1 comment

We just finished a pilot project that we feel will have an essential positive impact on our community.  If re-funded and expanded this project will change the face and health of several communities.

OUR STRATEGY is empowerment rather than dependency.  Many times people in need appear to those helping them as people who dont think about what is best for them.  When given the space and resources to implement their own ideas parents have confidence in their own capacities and personal experiences.  LKMPD believes that self-determination is the raod to dignity and success.

A quick 9 week project called Water and Gardens for 10 Families was funded by Pacific Rim Voices.  Each family received 2 water drums, 2 gutters, vegetable seeds, training, kandelam plants for a 10 square meter space, and wire fencing to keep out goats and chickens until the kandelam grows to secure height and width.  The gardeners talked together each wek to deepen each other’s knowledge.  The completion of these gardens has ignited a desire in others to be part of this movement.  We hope all of our 100 families will eventually have home vegetable gardens.  The community recognizes that this gardens will diminish malnutrition in Matènwa.

LUISINE SPEAKS ABOUT THE PROJECT: I have already benefitted from my garden.  We have eaten from it and sold from it.  I will help some of the other families in their gardens so they can also be successful.  If one of us in the group doesn’t succeed, then we all lose out.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Low

July Update

Jul 13th, 2011
by Joanne.
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Bonjou Friends of MCLC,

Music:  Our program is really advancing now.  Our friend, Owen Thomas, from the US came with a recorder and taught us how to record music.  With his help we now have a CD with songs from every class.  A group of youth are going to open a recording studio this summer in one of our new local art studio cottages.

Bookstore and book production room:  The space is almost done.  The walls are done and many of the tables have been made.  Our local Mother Tongue Books will be produced and sold here.  Many schools here and abroad are planning to produce books next year.  We are looking to make this a global collaborative.

Annual Open Space Meeting June 23-26th:  This  year Millienne, Chrislène, Esther, Samila, Eligene and Tiga represented MCLC.  People from all over Haiti, from different economic and educational backgrounds attend this discussion-based meeting.  This year’s theme was: What tools and practices do Haitians need to become an agent of change in their communities?  Our agriculture teacher, Eligene, brought pictures to illustrate how we integrate agriculture into our curriculum for all students.  Those who attended his session were eager to implement this in their schools.

The computer room:  The children in fourth grade are continuing to enjoy math games brought by Michel DeGraff for a pilot that we have been participating in this year to analyze what advantages there are to using computers when teaching fourth grade mathematics.

Friends, that’s a few things we have to report for this month.  We hope you have enjoyed reading?

Thank you,

Secretary Millienne Angervil and Co-founder Chris Low

June Update

Jun 4th, 2011
by Joanne.
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LKM collaborators, bonjou! It is always with joy in our hearts that we share some of the activities we have done over the past month.

maydayprep

Since the beginning of May we have been planning lots of things in order to present the best MAY 18th FLAG DAY CELEBRATION ever. All the teachers engaged in beautifying the campus and organizing class presentations. The whole school community paraded up and down the street and then entered the large circle to start our program. In years past several schools would organize parades, but this year we were the only school in these mountains celebrating, so we had many, many guests. Some were singing enthusiastically. All classes were involved, providing theater, songs, and poems.


In MUSIC students are working on songs for a CD. Preschool through third grade students were learning poetry and songs for Mother’s Day.

The elementary students have become more interested in the library. The librarian feels it is because they are enjoying the illustrated fables. The students are even more motivated to write Mother Tongue Books because they are so happy hear that people are interested in reading their work.

New Roof

The BOOKSTORE has a roof! Construction is almost finished.

We are in our 5th month of Michel DeGraff’s pilot on using computer math games in Creole with our 4th grade class. Teachers have been working with Cuisenaire rods so Michel brought us Cuisenaire rod computer games.

Sincerely,

Chris Low in behalf of the MCLC staff.

 

 

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