Montessori for Kenya works with partners to support Montessori education. The organization plays the following role towards partnership:
AMI: Corner of Hope
The Corner of Hope is a pilot initiative to show how Montessori Teacher Training and Schools can be delivered to the most vulnerable communities such as those in refugee, transit and IDP Camps. Its aim is self-reliance not dependence, community not school. Self ownership and control, dignity and self worth which all play an important role in overcoming the effects of trauma experienced by the inhabitants of the camps. It has the added advantage of building for the future and creating transferable skills that will accompany both adults and children wherever their final destination may be.The key objective was to engage the community in all aspects of the process, from construction, making materials and teaching. Since 2010, 48 teachers have been locally trained from the Internally Displaced Community at the 3-6 level. 27 teachers have been locally trained at the 6-12 level in the first ever elementary course in Africa, run under the guidance of Jean Miller (AMI Trainer) and mentors Eric Gumah, Eileen Spalla and Poinsy Pino (all AMI 6-12 teachers). 10 teachers were from Corner of Hope, 9 from other parts of Kenya and 8 from Tanzania.
10 years into existence, the Corner of Hope school in New Canaan is thriving and has become a community centre. A second location has opened at a nearby location at the request of the community in Kisima. Corner of Hope has become a model for analysis and replication, demonstrating a strong foundation in community, skilled and engaged teachers and flourishing children. For more information, visit https://montessori-esf.org/corner-hope
Sarara Foundation: Montessori Samburu
The Samburu nomadic school initiative has started in 2018 with a community engagement programme. Four Samburu teachers are undertaking their 3-6 training and two teachers from Corner of Hope have moved to the region and will act as senior members of this new team. A central resource centre will be established in the latter part of 2018 and subsequently the teachers will set up satellite schools that will follow the movement and settlement patterns of the Samburu who, as pastoral nomads, travel for water and fresh pastures for their animals. A team of four teachers (2 senior teachers from Corner of Hope and 2 Samburu trainees on attachment) is now based in the Namunyak Conservancy and visits the Ntaparani and Tintil settlement areas to work with the children and parents in temporary Montessori environments.
For more information, visit http://www.sararafoundation.org
Montessori Global Growth Fund (MGGF)
The Montessori Global Growth Fund is a grant-making organisation dedicated to expanding access to authentic Montessori education in underserved communities around the world. Three times each year, MGGF reviews grant applications from Montessori initiatives, supporting projects that demonstrate the potential to be both transformative and sustainable. Their rigorous process involves board members and volunteer liaisons who work closely with applicants to understand the community context behind each initiative. Through their support, MGGF helps Montessori education take root in places where it can make the greatest difference — empowering children, teachers, and communities alike.
For more information, visit https://www.montessori-mggf.org
Montessori Tanzania: Montessori Training Centre (MTC)
The Montessori Training Centre in Kawekamo, Mwanza, is a pioneering institution that has been training nursery school teachers in the Montessori methodology since 1997 — the first such centre in the Lake Zone of Tanzania. The two-year programme combines theoretical study, practical training, and fieldwork, with each student crafting their own full set of Montessori materials as part of their training. The centre's motto — Help me to do it by myself — reflects the Montessori spirit at the heart of its approach. The MTC's long-standing work in East Africa makes it a natural and valued partner for Montessori for Kenya as we collectively grow the movement across the region.
For more information, visit https://montessori-tanzania.ch
Pink Umbrella Foundation: The Montessori Journey in Uganda
The Pink Umbrella Foundation has been on a remarkable Montessori journey in Uganda since 2016, when they first visited the rural community of Buwampa. Over subsequent years, their funding transformed Divine Mercy Primary School from a small school of 50 students into a thriving institution. In 2020, they introduced Montessori education to the pre-primary classes, furnishing a full classroom of Montessori resources and commencing teacher training. By 2024, four teachers had graduated from that programme, and in 2025 the foundation opened the Pink Tower Montessori preschool and teacher training centre in Kampala — a milestone that demonstrates what sustained commitment to quality Montessori education can achieve.
For more information, visit https://www.pinkumbrellafoundation.com/education
Pink Tower Montessori, Uganda
Pink Tower Montessori is a high-quality Montessori pre-school for children aged 2.5 to 6 years, located in the leafy suburb of Makindye in Kampala, Uganda. The school is staffed by internationally qualified educators who specialise in the Montessori method, and its classrooms are equipped with genuine Montessori materials sourced through global partnerships. Pink Tower Montessori offers a child-centred and individualised curriculum spanning Mathematics, Language, Culture, Sensorial development, and Practical Life skills — giving every child the freedom to learn at their own pace and in line with their own interests. As a fellow East African Montessori institution with strong values around quality and accessibility, Pink Tower Montessori is an inspiring partner in our shared mission.
For more information, visit https://pinktowermontessori.org