Europe

A Primary classroom called “Casa Montessori” was opened in Bucharest, Sector 4, in September 2000, by the “Copiii Lumii – Bal Jagat Children’s World Foundation”, a Romanian non profit organization.

The Foundation opened “Casa Montessori” in an orphanage where individualized education addressing each child’s potential was much needed. The initial target group was children from the orphanage “Sfantul Vasile”. The program proved to be very successful.

After 2005 the orphanage closed and became the Community Service Center “Sfantul Vasile”. It now consists of a Day Care Center and a Rehabilitation Center for physically and mentally disabled children. “Casa Montessori” continues to function in this Center and now also includes underprivileged children from the community.

Families from California were the initial contributors and made it possible to open “Casa Montessori”. Our goal is both educational and humanitarian, providing free education for children from poor families, abandoned children and children with disabilities. The financing of the program continues to depend on various sponsors and private donors.

Casa Montessori consists of a 170 sq. meter classroom and a bathroom on the ground floor of the Community Center “Sfantul Vasile”. We are presently working with 15 children between the ages of 3 and 6 years. The teachers are Montessori trained. Both Dr. Rita Zener and Dr. Silvia C. Dubovoy continue to support our work training teachers and assistants.

In 1934, Maria Montessori helped create the first school in Romania. I. Spiru Firea was one of the first Montessori teachers of this school in Bucharest. Montessori education almost disappeared during the Second World War. It is our hope that we can provide Montessori education and caring home-like environments for Romania’s needy children in the years to come.