Jean Abner Sauveur
Founder of Matènwa Community Learning Center
Haiti
Jean Abner Sauveur was born and raised in Matènwa, Lagonav, Haiti. Since 1979 he has attended trainings in community organizing, agriculture, adult literacy, and pedagogy. He taught and directed the Grand Source Baptist School from 1980-1990. He is a founding member of AAPLAG (Asosiyasyon Animatè Peyizan Lagonav), which has organized over 300 community groups with Freirian pedagogy. Sauveur was AAPLAG’s literacy program director from 1991-2001. His life work is to spread educational practices that empower rural communities.
In 1996 Low and Sauveur co-founded the Matènwa Community Learning Center. They committed to offering students an education in their native Creole in an engaging atmosphere of learning and mutual respect. They co-directed MCLC until 2010. Presently, Low is Executive Director of Friends of Matènwa, Inc. and Sauveur is Director of MCLC Outreach Programs.