Chemen Lavi Miyo (CLM) – Pathway to a Better Life is a comprehensive approach to eliminating acute poverty. Pathway to a Better Life, reaches out to those on the margins of society. Throughout the 18-month program implemented by Fonkoze, case managers support clients as they learn to run a small business, repair their homes, and access health care and education services.  Participants develop both their capacity and their confidence until they have their own functioning microenterprises.

In January 2019, 200 women graduated from our first CLM cohort which started in June 2017.  “These women moved from not having an adequate roof or house, a latrine, clean drinking water or their children in school to having these things,” Sister Dale Jarvis notes. “They also have assets in the form of animals, can write their names and no longer suffer from malnutrition.”

One graduate upon receiving her certificate said with a smile, “Today I said good-bye to misery.”

Due to the success of the Women Standing Proud Campaign, the second cohort will begin late in 2019.

Who is Helped?

• Each cohort helps approximatel 200 ultra-poor women and their families who live on $1.25 per day or less.

• Over 1,200 children in these families

• Families who:

  • Do not eat every day

  • Don’t send their children to school

  • Can’t read or write

  • Live in flimsy, leaky, rain soaked homes

  • Don’t have their own latrine

  • Drink unfiltered water

  • Have no regular source of income

  • See no way to improve their lives

  • Have lost all hope

After 18 Months in this Program

• These women will:

  • Feed their children every day.

  • Have no untreated malnutrition in their households.

  • Live in a house with a good tin roof.

  • Have their own latrine.

  • Send all or most of their children to school.

  • Have at least two sources of income and $185 worth of productive assets.

  • Have a plan for the future.

  • Have the confidence to know they can succeed.

Pathway to a Better Life requires:  

Specially trained case managers to work with the women of each ultra-poor family throughout an intensive 18-month process helping them build the confidence and skills necessary to create a better life for themselves and their families.

Pathway to a Better Life provides:

• Careful selection of the poorest families in a community.

• Training in two income-generating activities

• Provision of assets needed to start each activity.

• A filter that ensures safe drinking water.

• Home repair and latrine construction.

• Close accompaniment that ensures use of available healthcare.

• Building local community support committees.

• A community graduation ceremony.

• Linkage to further microfinance accompaniment.

In the past 13 years this program has been operating in Haiti—with over 8,000 families being served.  The program has proved that ultra-poor women can reliably lift themselves and their families from extreme poverty when given the necessary tools and sufficient close accompaniment.

Pathway to a Better Life is an exceptional program, having graduated over 8000 participants at a 96% graduation rate. Pathway to a Better Life is recommended by The Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania to donors seeking programs with long term impact.

 “I feel like I had hit bottom.  But I’ve started to rise.

Slowly, slowly. Until I’m ready to stand up proud”

        Sidelna, a program graduate from Mazontbi, Haiti