By Chris Low | Co-Founder & Executive Director
In my 35 years as an educator, I’ve seen one fundamental truth that never changes: a hungry brain doesn’t learn. It survives. When a child arrives at the Matènwa Community Learning Center (MCLC) after a long walk on an empty stomach, they aren't thinking about literacy or garden science; they are thinking about when they might finally get to eat.
Our goal has always been to ensure that every single student at MCLC—from the little ones just starting out to the teenagers preparing for their futures—has a guaranteed breakfast.
Thanks to you, and the momentum from our Spring campaign, I am thrilled to report that we have hit a major milestone: All three of our Kindergarten classes and our 2nd-grade class are now 100% fully funded.
The Work Remaining
While we celebrate these four classrooms, our commitment to the rest of the school remains. Here is the current landscape of our Breakfast Club:
Fully Funded: 4 classrooms (K1, K2, K3, and 2nd Grade).
Partially Funded: 1 classroom is currently at 25% of its goal.
Awaiting Support: 4 classrooms are still waiting for a full, regular funding commitment.
We are nearly halfway to our goal of universal breakfast at MCLC. For the classes that are still waiting, the school and the parents continue to do what they have always done—find a way, share what they have, and keep moving forward. But the goal is to take that burden off their shoulders so they can focus entirely on the "Matènwa Way" of innovative, non-violent education.
Why This Matters Right Now
In Haiti, "stability" is a rare word these days. But inside the walls of MCLC, we create it. Providing a hot meal is a revolutionary act of stability. It tells the students that their community—and a group of people across the ocean—cares about their well-being as much as their test scores.
MCLC is the poto mitan (the center pillar) of Matènwa. By helping us secure these meals, you aren't just "donating to a project"; you are reinforcing that pillar. You are making it possible for our teachers to use the native language books and the participatory methods that have made this school a model for the rest of the country.
Thank you for recognizing that education starts with a full plate. We are so grateful for your partnership and for the very real difference you are making in the daily lives of these students.
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