Programs
If YOU have a program that meets the criteria, and would like to see it here, please register with us!
To see how you can support children in need, select a continent or scroll below.
As materials have to be hand-carried to Zimbabwe, financial donations are requested:
The Nhimbe Magaya Preschool is a project inspired by Karen
Madsen-Barton. It began through a connection to the world of Zimbabwean
music, in particular Dumisani Maraire who brought Shona music to the west
coast of North America. After he passed on, Jaiaen Beck of Ancient Ways
traveled to Zimbabwe and with the village headman, Cosmos Magaya, began
a development and sustainability project to serve 7 villages in a rural
community. Karen asked if they had any interest in a school for their
3 to 6 year olds and the answer was a resounding YES. In 2001 the parents of the Oregon Sundborn Children's House
under the guidance of Karen, the Director, funded the construction of
a school building in Mhondoro. For these villages, it is the first indigenous
preschool and enjoys widespread community support.
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Volunteer Support: Yes
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For information on how to send donations, click here.
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Immediate Needs:
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africa
asia
australia
europe
north (& central) america
south america
africa
Nhimbe Magaya Preschool
Location: Magaya, Zimbabwe
Website: www.sundborn.org/nhimbe.htm
Program Established: 2001 # of Children: 80 Ages Served: 3-6
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Karen Madsen-Barton
Contact Information: NhimbeSchool@sundborn.org
The Olive Branch for
Children
Deborah’s Montessori School
Location: Mbeya,
Tanzania
Website: www.theolivebranchforchildren.org
Program Established: 2005
# of Children: 20
Ages Served: 2 ½ - 8 years old
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Ginette McCracken
Contact Information: info@theolivebranchforchildren.org
In 2005 Deborah McCracken founded the Olive Branch for
Children to provide relief for orphans in the Mbeya region
of Tanzania who were born with AIDS or HIV or whose parents
have died or suffered from AIDS. In addition to providing life-saving
medical care to the communities and developing self-sustainability
projects, one of the major objectives is to improve the education
of Tanzanian children through the Montessori initiative.
Thus, Deborah’s Montessori School was created to
serve both the children at the orphanage and those from
surrounding villages.
asia
The House of Flowers
Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Website: www.mepoonline.org
Program Established: 2002 # of Children: 28 Ages Served: 6-13
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Allison Lide
Contact Information: mepo.hope@gmail.com
The House of Flowers is a Montessori-based orphanage and school, a small oasis in the rough and often child-unfriendly environment of Afghanistan. It was founded by a small non-profit organization, MEPO, (Medical, Educational and Peace Organization) in 2002. Its founders, Allison Lide and Mostafa Vaziri, knew that children coming from such decimating backgrounds were most needful of the soul-strengthening effects of a Montessori environment.....
Khom Loy Montessori Programme
Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand
Website: www.khomloy.org | Take a look at this new video.
Program Established: May 2004
# of Children: 600+
Ages Served: 4-6
Immediate Needs:
classrooms.
Contact Person: Paul Hancock
Contact Information: Paul Hancock pmchancock@gmail.com
Paul Hancock and Patricia Solar started the Khom Loy project in 2002. They created the Khom Loy Development Foundation to work with the Burmese
refugee and ethnic minority hilltribes of Northern Thailand to find innovative ways of dealing with social deprivation. Over the last 100 years, Burmese and ethnic minority tribal people have migrated to Chiang Rai province, in the North of Thailand, to escape war, hardship and military dictatorship in neighbouring areas. The current population is estimated at over 550,000 in Thailand alone. In addition to the Burmese refugees there are 6 separate tribes: Akha, Karen, Lahu, Mien, Lisu, and Hmong. All are originally from different regions, and all have their own individual cultures and traditions. None of their languages stem from the same group as Thai.
The Khom Loy Montessori Programme was started in 2004 with the aim of converting rural daycare centres into Montessori based classrooms. The introduction of Montessori has given these refugee and ethnic minority children a much richer educational experience as well as an opportunity to learn to speak Thai and begin the foundations of reading and writing in preparation for full-time schooling at the age of 6. In addition to developing academic and social skills they also discover the joys of community.
Yoezerling School
Location: Paro, Bhutan
Website:
http://www.michaelolaf.net/bhutan.html
Program Established: 2006
# of Children: 15
Ages Served: 3-4
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Susan Stephenson or Sally Connellan
Contact Information:
susanonly@earthlink.net | sallycon@ozemail.com.au
Yoezerling School in Paro, Bhutan was started in 2006 and began as a traditional school with just a few Montessori materials. Dendy, the head teacher was sponsored to go to Thailand for four training sessions over a two and a half year period and completed an extremely challenging course to earn the highly respected AMI diploma. In Bhutan the country follows a policy of GNH “Gross National Happiness” rather than GNP “Gross National Product”. Every day school begins with a pledge of allegiance and morning prayers. The Yoezerling School is becoming a model Montessori program for the young children of Paro.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
TCV: Tibetan Children's Villages
Location: Dharamsala, India
Website: www.michaelolaf.net/motcvproject.html
Program Established: 1960
# of Children: 300
Ages Served: 3-6
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Susan Stephenson
Contact Information: www.michaelolaf.net/motcvproject.html
From its humble beginning forty five years ago, Tibetan Children's Village has today become a thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in recent years. TCV schools have adopted the Montessori teaching of methodology which emphasizes the inner development of children...
Shishu Shorgho Montessori School
Location: Chittagong, Bangladesh
Website: www.childhavenmontessori.com
Program Established: 2008
# of Children: 30
Ages Served: 2 1/2 - 8
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Matthew Sneyd
Contact Information: matthew@childhavenmontessori.com
Child Haven International, established in 1985, cares for over 1200 destitute children in eight homes located in India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bangladesh.
The CHI home in Chittagong, Bangladesh was opened in 2002 and currently cares for over 60 children from 4 to 13 years old. In 2008, an in house school was created for the younger children in the home. The school currently serves over 30 of these children from Kindergarten to Grade 4. In addition to the traditional classes, the children have the opportunity to learn in the Shishu Shorgho Montessori School, also located in the home. There are a wide range of Montessori materials in the environment where children are offered a chance to freely choose work that interests them and invites self-discipline, organization and concentration necessary to cultivate their self-confidence and natural love of learning. The lower elementary children use the environment to develop their senses, solidify their reading and writing, explore mathematical concepts with concrete materials, and learn about the continents, oceans, plants and animals in the cultural area.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
nepal
Green Tara Child Haven School
Location: Kathmandu,
Nepal
Website: www.childhavenmontessori.com
Program Established: 2009
# of Children: 230
Ages Served: 2.5 to grade 7
Contact Person: Matthew Sneyd
Contact Information: matthew@childhavenmontessori.com
Child Haven International, established in 1985, cares for over 1200 destitute children in eight homes located in India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bangladesh.
The Child Haven International home in Kathmandu currently cares for 120 children from 2 ½ to 17 years old. In 2000, CHI opened the Green Tara Child Haven School, which now enrolls 230 children from the home and the local community. Over 60% of the children are on full scholarship. The remaining children pay less than $7 per month.
Child Haven International is devoted to providing the children in its care with the best educational opportunities possible, while stressing the Gandhian principles of equality, non-violence, self-reliance, simple living, and respect for each individual’s native culture.
With these goals in mind, and with the support of trained Montessori teachers, CHI began two Montessori classes for its nursery and kindergarten children in March of 2009. Following a two year plan, we have now transitioned to two fully functioning bi-lingual Montessori environments, each operating according to AMI principles with 35 children between the ages of 3 and 6.
More information HERE
australia
Gamarada Redfern Montessori
Learning Centre
Location: Redfern,
New South Wales
Website:
http://gamarada.net.au/
Program Established: 1998
# of Children: 20 Families
Ages Served: Infants-6
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Megan Tyne, Executive
Director MCF
Contact Information: montessorifoundation@bigpond.com
Redfern is home to an urban
indigenous community. The community faces many challenges
including drug and alcohol abuse, violence, rioting
and social disadvantage. In 1998 Barbara Stephen established
the Gamarada Redfern Montessori Learning Centre in
an effort to support these disadvantaged children.
She now lives with the locals and has the trust and
respect of the Aboriginal community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
Minimbah
Location: Armidale,
New South Wales
Website:
www.montessorifoundation.org
Program Established: May, 2006
# of Children: 20
Ages Served: 6-9
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Megan Tyne, Executive
Director MCF
Contact Information: montessorifoundation@bigpond.com
Minimbah is an independent Indigenous
school in Armidale, New South Wales that began as a
pre-school in 1961. In May 2006, Peter Erskine, a Montessori
teacher, worked closely with the school community to
establish a Montessori elementary classroom. The purpose
of Minimbah (which means a place of learning) is to
give young students the opportunity to learn in a safe
and stimulating multicultural environment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
Wadja Wadja High School
Location: Woorabinda,
Queensland
Website:
www.montessorifoundation.org
Program Established: 2003
# of Children: 20
Ages Served: 13-15
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Megan Tyne, Executive
Director MCF
Contact Information: montessorifoundation@bigpond.com
Wadja Wadja High School is an
independent indigenous Montessori program in the remote
community of Woorabinda, which has a population of
approximately 1000 inhabitants. The Montessori teachers,
Jenny and Joel Rioux, face many challenges but continue
to invest in this new generation of children.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
europe
Casa Montessori
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Website:
Newsletters: Read Newsletter1 HERE, Read Newsletter
2 HERE
Program Established: September 2000 # of Children: 15 Ages Served: 3-6
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Victoria Iliescu
Contact Information: viviliescu@yahoo.com
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....
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
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
Contact Person: Annette Cousins, Co-Executive
Director
Contact Information: annette@nrccafe.org
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. 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 preschool is now a
full-day program, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m, Monday thru Friday. 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.
Otoch Paal Montessori Community Center
Location: Akumal, Q. Roo, Mexico
Website: No Website
Program Established: April 2004
# of Children: 70
Ages Served: 18 months-6 years
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Gabriela Ortega
Contact Information: otochpaal@prodigy.net.mx
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.
The school offers an authentic Montessori education, based on the
philosophy, teachings and methods of Maria Montessori. The Community
Centre currently has around 70 children in four environments, two for 18 month
to 3 year olds and two for 3 – 6 year olds. Each environment is in the
form of a palm shelter; the typical dwelling of the Mayan culture.
Liberty Children's Home
Location: Belize, Central America
Website: www.libertyfoundation.org.uk
Program Established: July 2005
# of Children: 40
Ages Served: Birth-8
Immediate Needs:
Contact Person: Marcelle Delahaye, Founder/Director
Contact Information: mdelahaye@libertyfoundation.org.uk
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....
Mi Casita Montessori
Location: Quetzaltenango (“Xela”), Guatemala
Website: www.micasitamontessori.wordpress.com
Program Established: Beginning in January 2012
# of Children: 10
Ages Served: 2.5-3.5
Immediate Needs:
Volunteer Support: Yes
Contact Person: Shirley Lopez Yancor or Zil Jaeger
Contact Information: ziljaeger@gmail.com
Mi Casita Montessori is a project at its inception, 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 as they become inspired, 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 will be the first Montessori program in the city led by an AMI trained teacher. Currently under construction, the school is set to open in January 2012 with ten 2.5-3.5 year old children, growing each year until it serves a community of thirty 3-6 year olds.
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 will create 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.
south america
Casa del Nino Maria de Nazareth
Location: Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Website: www.fundacionmontessori.org
Program Established: 1993
# of Children: 91, 30 in the Montessori program
Ages Served: 2.6 – 6
children.
trained assistant.
Voluntary Support: The ability to speak Spanish is necessary.
Contact Person: Marisa Sioli
Contact Information:
info@fundacionmontessori.org
“Casa del Niño María de Nazareth” in Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires, is an institution founded in 1993 by a group of people belonging to the Apostolic Movement of Shoenstatt. Its general mission is to contribute to a fairer and more dignified society and more specifically to help families create favorable conditions for the healthy growth and education of children and to offer youngsters the tools to develop economic independence and become positive models in their own social environments. The recent shift to a Montessori environment has brought about huge changes for the children from this very poor neighborhood in Buenos Aires.