North & Central America
NRC Montessori Preschool
Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Website: www.nrccafe.org
Program Established: June 2006
# of Children: 16 • Ages Served: 2-5 years old
Contact Person: Salome Fernando, Co-Executive Director
Contact Information: salome@nrccafe.org
Immediate Needs:
- Donations to support operating costs.
- Montessori Materials – New or Used in Good Condition:
a) Language cards and cursive moveable alphabet.
b) Math materials – golden bead material and negative snake game.
c) Geography – Landforms and cultural materials.
d) Science materials, wooden trays, map stand and rug stand.
e) Children’s music
f) Pre-school sized Bikes and Tricycles
g) Sand toys, balls and bean bags for outdoor play
DONATE
Click HERE for donation information.
The NRC is a grassroots, non-profit organization located in the east end of Richmond, Virginia in a neighborhood called Greater Fulton Hill (GFH). The center was established to provide community members with a place to build relationships, access resources and develop skills to enhance their lives and determine the fate of their community. Truancy, poverty, gun violence, domestic violence, and substance abuse are common obstacles found in the neighborhood. In an effort to provide the youngest citizens of this community with a healthy beginning, the NRC partnered with some local Montessorians to open a Montessori preschool in June 2006. The first summer half-day “pilot program” was an overwhelming success!
The preschool is now a full-day program, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m, Monday thru Friday and includes a Kindergarten group. The preschool offers a quality Montessori education on a sliding-scale basis; we believe it to be the first in the nation to do so. There are currently 16 children enrolled. The preschool is licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Montessori materials are used in the classroom, and the prepared environment is supported by two AMI-trained teachers.
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Otoch Paal Montessori Community Center
Location: Akumal, Q. Roo, Mexico
Website: akumal.montessoridecancun.com
Program Established: April l 2004
# of Children: 70 • Ages Served: 18 months-6 years
Contact Person: Tita Llerandi
Contact Information: centrocomunitariomaya@gmail.com
Immediate Needs:
- Operating funds to support teacher salaries and classroom supplies.
- Funds to put a new roof on the kiosk where events are held in the strong mid-day sun.
DONATE
Please send your tax deductible donation here:
Otoch Paal Montessori Community Center is a labor of love designed to educate the indigenous children from the Mayan Riviera. Otoch Paal makes it possible for families with low incomes from the community of Akumal and neighboring areas to have high quality pre-school education for children ages 18 months to 6 years. Our next goal is to add new buildings to house an elementary program with separate boys and girls bathrooms as required by the Secreteria de Educacion Publica.
The school offers an authentic Montessori education, based on the philosophy, teachings and methods of Maria Montessori. The Community Centre currently has around 60 children in four environments, one for 18 month to 3 year olds, two for 3 – 6 year olds and one for teaching English. Each environment is in the form of a circular shelter; the typical dwelling of the Mayan culture. The parents of the families meet every Sunday with a common objective: to improve the facilities and to collaborate with tasks that ensure their children will receive the very best education. The mothers keep the rooms clean and work together to make some of the materials that their children use. All of them are enthused with a spirit of hope and harmony. The marvels of nature and the warmth of the people have allowed a true Montessori community to be embraced daily.
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The Infant Room gives an opportunity for mothers to work in nearby hotels; in this way they can significantly improve the family’s finances.
The Community Centre promotes the cultural heritage of the Mayan region through teaching the language and celebrating special events at school. Children and their parents are invited to wear the traditional dress of huipiles, ternos and guyaberas. Grandmothers also are active participants on these occasions. They came to the school on the Day of the Dead to make pibes, a traditional dish of the region.
All members of the community work together with great dedication to provide the best possible environment for the families of Akumal and neighboring areas. We appreciate any support you can give us.
Liberty Children’s Home
Location: Belize, Central America
Website: http://www.libertychildrenbelize.org/
Program Established: 2005
# of Children: 40 • Ages Served: Birth – 8 years old
Contact Person: Agatha Valentine, Director
Contact Information: agatha@libertyfoundation.org.uk
Immediate Needs:
- Financial Donations
- Dressing Frames
- Practical Life Equipment
- Metal Insets
- Color Box 1 & 2
- The Land and Water Globe
DONATE
Contact Agatha Valentine at agatha@libertyfoundation.org.uk
Summary of Project
Liberty Foundation believes in providing an environment in which children ‘at risk’ , and those with disabilities and special needs can gain access to rehabilitation, care and the educational tools they will need to build healthy, successful lives.
The Home
Liberty Children’s Home is a purpose-built home to house and care for orphaned, abused and neglected children in Ladyville, Belize and opened in July 2005. The home has a child-centred approach influenced by the Pikler method of childcare, a well researched approach developed to prevent the damaging effects of institutionalisation on children and the Montessori philosophy of education, a method of teaching that aims for the fullest possible development of the whole child.
Liberty Community School
In October 2006 Liberty’s newly built school and learning centre opened its doors to the eagerly awaiting children of both Liberty Children’s Home and the wider community of Ladyville. Teachers, caregivers and parents have all been working together towards a common goal of providing the children with an environment where each child can develop to his/her potential.
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The Building
Belize has an unfortunate history of devastating hurricanes. The home consists of 5 monolithic domes, ecological structures which were specifically chosen due to being entirely hurricane proof.
The Children
Liberty Children’s home will initially house up to 40 orphaned, abused or neglected children predominantly between 0-5 years of age. Liberty Foundation is working closely with the Belize Human Services Department in the placement of children. The children will be cared for and bought up until their future is satisfactorily secured. From their earliest age the children will spend a lot of time in spacious well- equipped playrooms, or in the open air. Their healthy, emotional and spiritual state is achieved through close relationship with few adults. The careful attention, gentle gestures and understanding of the care provider will nurture the child’s faith in adults and develop his/her self- confidence.
Foster Care/Adoption
The Home will make efforts to place the children in families, preferably their own, or, if that is not possible, with adoptive or long-term foster parents. The home will maintain communication with and help the families even after the child’s departure.
Research
Research work will take place at the facility conducted by the University of Belize and will be incorporated into their teacher training course. Their research will focus on child-centred learning. Staff will be responsible for making observational notes on a daily basis.
Parents As Teachers
This international program is dedicated to helping parents be their children’s best first teachers. Parents are provided with information, guidance, and assistance. Liberty Foundation is introducing this program to Belize and is working closely with the Ministry of Human Development to ensure its success.
Mi Casita Montessori
Location: Quetzaltenango (“Xela”), Guatemala
Website: www.micasitamontessori.wordpress.com
Program Established: January 2012
# of Children: 38 (2.5-6 year olds) with 1 lead teacher and two assistants (one of whom speaks exclusively English)
21 (7-9 year olds) with one teacher and one assistant. This class also has English, as well as a Quiche teacher (the local indigenous language).
Contact Person: Shirley Lopez Yancor or Zil Jaeger
Contact Information: shirley.yancor@gmail.com, ziljaeger@gmail.com
Immediate Needs:
- Books about various academics subjects and for learning English.
- Scholarship funds so that we can serve more children in the community. $1000 will allow one child to engage in this beautifully prepared environment at Mi Casita for a full school year. Please consider how you or your school can help.
- Elementary materials.
- Trained volunteers who are willing to commit to at least one year assisting the program.
- Sponsorships for AMI training of more teachers.
- Funds towards building a new school as Mi Casita has now outgrown its current location.
DONATE
To donate funds, please contact Zil Jaeger or Shirley Lopez Yancor directly at micasitaxela@gmail.com.
We are currently working on the preliminary stages of becoming a non-profit organization in the U.S. so that we can receive tax-deductible donations. You can also take a look at the past online fundraising campaign HERE
Over the past five years, Mi Casita Montessori has grown exponentially, driven by the passion and dedication of Shirley Lopez Yancor, a Guatemalan Montessori primary directress. Mi Casita Montessori’s vision is to support the unique development of each child and to inspire life-long learners capable of realizing positive change in their society. The school is located in the mountainous highlands in Guatemala’s second largest city, Quetzaltenango or “Xela”. Mi Casita Montessori is the first Montessori program in the city led by an AMI trained teacher. The school has grown from six primary aged children in 2012 to fifty-nine children ages 2.5 to 9.
Guatemala’s long history of violence and entrenched poverty means that education, particularly early-childhood education, is unavailable to many children there. The programs that do exist often lack materials, properly trained teachers, and opportunities for children to become inspired by learning. Working under the guidelines of AMI, Mi Casita Montessori has created a safe, nurturing environment where each child is supported on his or her path to intellectual, physical and social development. More importantly, Mi Casita holds a vision of fostering peace by offering children with the tools to interact with one another with grace and respect. The school wishes to actively heal the scars left by years of civil war and political violence.