Chemen Lavi Miyo

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) is Fonkoze’s flagship 18- month poverty alleviation program in Haiti where women partner one-on-one with a dedicated case manager to holistically transform their families’ futures.

Designed specifically for households living in ultra- and extreme poverty, the program combines targeted cash transfers to start two businesses, intensive coaching, savings facilitation through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), psychosocial support, and more.

Together, these components help families stabilize immediate needs while building the skills, assets, and confidence required for long-term economic security and social stability.

Rather than a one-time intervention, CLM is a structured pathway that enables families to move sustainably out of extreme poverty and into resilient livelihoods.

Reaching the Most Vulnerable

CLM participants live on the margins of rural society in some of the most underserved communities in Haiti. Before joining CLM, these families face chronic hunger, lack reliable income, have no productive assets, and limited access to healthcare, safe housing, and education for their children.

Fonkoze recognizes that families facing extreme poverty require intensive, sustained support to begin climbing the organization’s Staircase Out of Poverty toward stability and self-reliance.

How the CLM Graduation Pathway Works

Fonkoze’s CLM program uses a proven graduation approach first developed by BRAC in
Bangladesh to help women transition from extreme poverty to lasting economic independence.

Over an intensive 18-month journey, specially trained case managers work one-on-one with
participants to build sustainable livelihoods, confidence, and long-term resilience.

Each participant receives:

Materials to construct a safe nine-square-meter home with a durable roof, stable floor, and latrine
A household water filter
Cash support while businesses grow
Free healthcare through our partnership with Zanmi Lasante, the Haitian sister organization of Partners In Health

Case managers conduct weekly home visits — often traveling long distances on foot to reach remote communities — providing business training, life skills coaching, and ongoing encouragement.

Fonkoze provides the tools. Women bring the determination.
Together, they build a path out of poverty—for good.

Read Our Stories

Thousands of women have participated in our CLM program; discover their stories of empowerment, triumph, and resilience. Read more below or see all the CLM posts