This EsF stories episode is about taking initiative, integrating into a community, and creating sustainable change in the community. Born in Spain, today’s guest has made a long, interesting, and circuitous journey to Mexico, where she currently lives. Her local community has benefited from her experience, her insight, and her boundless energy to develop a meaningful educational program, from early childhood through adolescence. After traveling around the world, from India to Guatemala to refugee camps in Nigeria, Carolina had a vision. With the help of the community and local sources, she was able to build a Montessori center in 2015 in Oaxaca, Mexico, and create most of the 3-6 materials. She was able to be connected to EsF and to an AMI-trained guide. Two years ago, she started an adolescent program. Listen to this episode to learn more about Carolina’s work and how she got there! 🌐 EsF Website: https://montessori-esf.org/

In this episode, our president Alain Tschudin, professor of Peace Studies and Takako Fukatsu, Montessori advocate in Japa tap into their varied and wide experience in a Montessori concept embedded in all our work and values: the preparation and transfer of peace. You can learn more about the speakers of this AMI Talk by visiting the link here.

Welcome to the latest episode of the AMI Talks! On November 15th, we hosted an insightful talk exploring the topic of The Importance of Movement. Our lineup of speakers was dynamic, and we began with the globally renowned Professor Adele Diamond, who is a pioneer in the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. In her presentation, she discussed the profound significance of music, dance, and movement. After Professor Diamond's talk, we had the privilege of hearing from Ruben Jongkind and Patrick Oudejans, the two visionaries behind Montessori Sports. They shared their perspective on how "Sport is a key to educating human potential." You can learn more about the speakers of this AMI Talk by visiting the link here.

On 31 August 2023, AMI held an enlightening AMI Talk featuring three exceptional speakers who discussed the importance of parent engagement. Hear from Eduardo Cuevas, Francescah Kipsoi and Lilian Wairimu Mwaura who generously shared their stories and expertise in this field. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their child's educational journey, and when equipped with deeper Montessori knowledge, children can reap the benefit of closer and more joyful collaboration between home and school. You will love hearing about experiences from various backgrounds and cultures.

In this episode of EsF stories Monique Bekker and Felista Urassa tell the story of the Kilakala Montessori classroom for deaf children in Morogoro, Tanzania. Monique and Felista have been working together to support deaf children for over 20 years and they share their experiences and their thoughts on why Montessori education is a natural fit for deaf children. They also reflect on the evolution of the initiative and the impact it has had on the children, their families, and the broader community.     Felista joined the conversation from Tanzania. Her internet connection was a little unstable at times, but we were so grateful she was able to join the conversation and share her inspiring story. If you have any questions or if you would like to get in touch with Monique and Felista, please send us an email at [email protected].

To celebrate International Women’s Day we hosted an AMI Talk with Professor Noah Sobe and Beverley Maragh, lecturer at the Maria Montessori Institute, London. Noah Sobe’s presentation explored whether the concept of childhood has its historical lifespan and traced ways that childhood changed across the 20th and 21st centuries. Beverley featured on an amazing initiative that was created in collaboration with the Born Inside project, aimed at benefiting mothers, babies, and pregnant women in one of the biggest prisons for women in Britain. Noah Sobe’s presentation explored whether the concept of childhood has its own historical lifespan. It began with an examination of how a proper, protected, healthy childhood was understood at the time of Montessori's first work in education, and then traced ways that childhood changed across the 20th and 21st centuries. The talk concluded with an evaluation of historical arguments that we have reached an "end" to childhood and what this might mean for early childhood education. Beverley Maragh presented an amazing initiative that was created in collaboration with the Born Inside project, aimed at benefiting mothers, babies, and pregnant women in one of the biggest prisons for women in Britain. Her story is testimony to the great commitment and dedication to give infants and babies a “head-start” in circumstances where love and care can be scarce commodities. Beverley sketched how the initiative developed, also having to battle against institutional prejudices, and the disruption caused by Covid. The Born Inside initiative has been replicated in Mexico, where recently a mother and baby unit opened in a penal institution. We were happy to host such an interesting presentation which highlighted the importance of childhood, education and children’s and women’s interaction with society, its structures, challenges, and opportunities.

On January 6, the day that marks the opening of the first Casa dei Bambini in San Lorenzo, Rome, we hosted an AMI Talk with Victoria Johnson, Agnese Fontanaand Rosario di Girolamo. The speakers shared their experiences around the theme of the Global Path of Montessori. Victoria Johnson, PhD in Global Family, Health and Wellbeing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gave a fascinating overview of her research into the introduction of Montessori in communities, and how Montessori’s unique capability of taking on a diverse hue underscored its universality. Agnese Fontana, producer and author, and Rosario di Girolamo, cross-media creative director of MontessoriRoad delighted the audience by showing this spread across cultures, sharing highlights from their filming of Montessori children at work in different countries.

Our AMI Talk of 19 October with Uma Ramani and Pieter Verstraete focused on the theme of silence and highlighted how silence in education can be both an instrument and an outcome of the practice of education as an aid to life. Uma is an AMI Trainer, and currently Director of Training (3-6) at the Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT), Dallas, Texas. Uma is deeply interested in the study of Maria Montessori’s writings and enjoys exploring the continued relevance of Montessori philosophy and practice in the modern-day context. Pieter is a professor of history of education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Louvain in Belgium. In his most recent book Silence in the Classroom, he explores the history of western pedagogical approaches to silence in schools (Leuven University Press).

This podcast is about innovation, commitment, and resilience. It features people who found different ways to apply Montessori principles and started initiatives to serve communities in different parts of the world. They share their stories on what inspired and motivated them, and how their ideas came to realisation. In this new episode of EsF stories, we have a conversation with Mayumi Saito. We got to know Mayumi during the Voices of EsF programme in 2021. As part of the programme, she conducted focused conversations with children between the ages of 6 and 12 about their life; the things that are important to them, the challenges they face, and the changes they would like to make. In our conversation, Mayumi shares how she got involved in Montessori through parenthood, in a search for the best way to support the development of her children. Her commitment to Montessori and child development eventually led to the establishment of a Montessori children’s club, where children can meet, work, and learn through Montessori principles. If you have any questions or want to get in touch with Mayumi, please email us at [email protected].

The AMI Talk of 31 August 2022 with Nicolina Montesano Montessori and Yoliswa Mahobe focused on the laws of life and the role of nature in humankind’s true well-being. Nicolina Montesano Montessori, a researcher with a background in discourse analysis, reflects on the importance of connecting to nature. With her special interest in eco-literacy and social justice, she also uncovers some of the “policy speak” of leaders when referring to the protection of nature. Yoliswa Mahobe is attached to the Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch, S.A. where she is the training coordinator for the Living Soils Community Learning Farm; here she supports community engagement work around food security. She also facilitates experiential garden lessons with the Lynedoch Small School, Lynedoch Children’s House and Youth programme.

The AMI Talk of 19 May 2022 zoomed in on how children acquire life skills in Indigenous communities in the Americas, and particularly Mexico. Dr Barbara Rogoff shared some of her pioneering research work and Carolina Cerezuela spoke of a Montessori outreach initiative in Oaxaca.

The AMI Talk of 19 May 2022 zoomed in on how children acquire life skills in Indigenous communities in the Americas, and particularly Mexico. Dr Barbara Rogoff shared some of her pioneering research work and Carolina Cerezuela spoke of a Montessori outreach initiative in Oaxaca.  

In the last Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Professor Shadrick Mazaza speaks about transformation, authenticity and human potential. He gives his ideas on the ways to harmonize the development and integration of the African continent and on the challenges that Africa faces nowadays. Shadrick describes three types of transformation: personal transformation, inter-personal transformation and socio-economic transformation. He explains that in order to understand the human, one needs to understand their own set of values which is unique to every person, bearing in mind that our values dictate what we see and how we react to situations. These values are dynamic and are always evolving. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Catherine Kennedy. We hope that you have enjoyed the series of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts. This series will soon be published on our website so that you can always have access to your favourite episodes. Stay tuned and learn more about the EsF Assembly 2019! Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 9th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Benjamin Stähli from Switzerland presents the Montessori Architectural Patterns in the design of educational spaces. He describes the historical background of Montessori Architecture and defines the concept of “Montessori Patterns”. Benjamin speaks about the paradigmatic differences leading to the fundamentally different architectural forms of the educational environment and explains how the “Montessori Patterns” project sets out to explain these differences with the purpose of aiding those who are interested in the design process of Montessori schools. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 8th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts Jess Schulschenk, Director of the Sustainability Institute, introduces us to the Lynedoch Eco-village concept. It was established in 1999 to set up a community for indigent farmworkers in the area of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Lynedoch Eco-village has partnered with Indaba Montessori Institute to provide quality training for teachers and a holistic environment for the youngest children. It is a place where everyone becomes connected through work and care for the community. In conclusion, Jess explains how the wetland works and how solar energy has become part of the housing in Lynedoch. The presentation is followed by a vivid discussion with the assembly participants. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 7th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Stan Ferguson, Lumin Education Family Therapist, speaks about the place of the child in the family. He describes the work that the Lumin Bachman Lake Community School currently does as regards the development of the child. The school understands the urgency of education and awareness within the first years of life this is why parents are encouraged to enter a collaborative relationship with the school in raising the children in a challenged community: challenges facing this community are poverty, lack of documentation for migrants in the community and the real concern of being deported and the uncertainties of the repercussions that this may have on children and families. This involvement has proven to have a positive effect on the support, investment and involvement that parents have with the school. The Early for Us program focuses on parent knowledge, training and weekly home visits for around 90 minutes with the trained adult and parents. Stan believes that by listening to someone’s story, we take on part of their story. By listening in earnest to the migrant families that Stan has worked with, he continues to strive to offer the best support and help to parents and teachers, enabling parents to be teachers for their children during the first years. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive "Dance with me" Chloe Hall BY NC SA

In the 6th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Mignon Hardie speaks about Language as the Foundation of Community. She presents the concept of stories that have the power to change lives, combating the high rate of illiteracy in South Africa. FUNDZA, a South African nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy among teens and young adults, aims to provide the foundation for a healthy, stable, growth-oriented society – of which literacy is the cornerstone. Mignon brings up the possibilities of reaching people through cellphone literature, promoting language learning and encouraging writing for expression. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In our fifth episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, neuroscientist Dr Adele Diamond shares her research on the link between creativity and brain development. She introduces the El Sistema music initiative aimed at uniting the community and helping children by means of music. Children who struggle academically get more motivated and active while playing an instrument. This observation underlies The Recycled Orchestra concept, where children play musical instruments made from scrap materials. Adele also speaks about the Youth Circus where children are expressing themselves regardless of their age, gender, body type, race, experience or skill through the art of circus. Another initiative, Quat Props centres around juggling that is accessible to all. Moving the art of juggling from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane allows anyone to experience juggling which has many benefits overall, specifically when building neurological pathways. In conclusion, Adele puts a finishing touch to her brilliant speech by discussing ways to strengthen and exercise the executive functions of inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility and enumerates the factors that have negative effects on executive functions. This already musical episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by the amazing Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

The mother tongue is the language of our heart❤️ In the 4th episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “Language as Foundation of Community”, Susan Nyaga from Kenya speaks about the importance of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education. She defines the mother tongue as the language through which a child first learns to express himself as well as the language through which a person perceives the world around him. Nowadays, only 62% of the population has access to education in their mother tongue. The African languages are officially recognized in very few countries on the African continent. Considering that the child learns best when taught in his mother tongue, more needs to be done to facilitate education through the means of the mother tongue in the school environment to ensure more efficient learning, better communication and, eventually, a happier childhood. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

How can we support people with Dementia by honouring their strengths, interests, and abilities? In our third episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “May You Live Every Day of Your Life”, Anne Kelly, Montessori Dementia Consultant, speaks about Maria Montessori’s philosophy as a perfect mission statement for aged care. She explains that thinking in challenges and obstacles does not work and that solutions need to be found in order to ensure quality of life for those living with dementia. Providing the elderly with order, choice, music, and activities that make them feel like valued members of society, leads to notable changes in their quality of life. The implementation of Montessori principles for the elderly and people with Dementia, has had a significant impact on relationships between carers, residents, and family. In conclusion, Anne speaks about what it means to honour and respect our elders, not only throughout their time on earth but also how they depart from life. We need to honour those who have gone before us for who they were and what their contribution to humanity is. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In our second episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “Building Community”, co-founder of the Lynedoch Ecovillage and Sustainability Institute Eve Annecke shares her journey to Lynedoch. Eve believes that we do not choose our place in the world, rather, we are chosen by a place, and turning our back on the place that we have been chosen by is turning our back on our soul. She accentuates the importance of connecting through speaking to one another, in a world where we tend to communicate via impersonal mediums which remove the personal human connection. Our experiences need to be taken seriously and each experience comes with validity. Eve speaks about the essence of being able to be in a place of stillness, where one can reflect on our elders, our dreams and perhaps draw the answers to bring about great change through the timelessness of being still. There is a need to create and honour stories of our time and place, focusing on the rhythm of spoken language and embracing our voices. What does it mean to be human? A question for all to give meditative thought to. This episode features two bonus tracks by Drum Café and our colleagues Sr Dorosella, Jovitha, Beth, Rose, Terry, Loise and Hillary uncovering passionate rhythms and serene melodies of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In this very special, first episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “A Sense of Place” we will listen to South African Montessori pioneers Naledi Mabeba & Bukelwa Selema who share impressions about their work and life in South Africa. Naledi speaks about the difficulties that she faced when first working with the children in the Western Cape and how to work towards building understanding and be accepting of others and embracing their differences. She encourages adults to think out of the box top explore ways to reach these children and to support them to reach their potential. Bukelwa, in her turn, shares her story of personal evolution: having spent childhood in a rural area during the years of Apartheid she foregrounds the negative influence of Bantu education on people of South Africa and future generations of teachers, in particular. Therefore, she believes that nowadays the biggest challenge of all is finding the right person for the environment. She stresses out that all South Africans regardless of culture or race are in a perpetual state of post-traumatic stress from the effects of apartheid. Only once the wounds of the past have begun to heal, change can take place. Bukelwa is adamant that this healing and change can begin by through Montessori education, through creating awareness and making Montessori education accessible to all. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive "Dance with me" Chloe Hall BY NC SA