Outreach Programs
MONTESSORI TRAINING AND RESEARCH TRUST OUTREACH WORK
Inspired and motivated by the 6th AMI EsF Assembly that was organized in Hyderabad, MTRT partnered with AMI to take this movement forward, by undertaking two initiatives which where the direct outcomes of the AMI EsF Assembly.
1. A pilot initiative to train Aanganwadi workers in Thullur district in Montessori practice:
This initiative was started in collaboration with local and state administration, the local ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) Project Director and philanthropists.
In January 2018, a 2-day introduction to the Thullur Aanganwadi community was conducted. In February and April, two 5-day training sessions were provided at the local Mandal office by Ms Uma Ramani and Helen Mohan Elias with help from Kalpana Viswas and Uma Shanker. The first session focused on the preparation of the adult, taking the teachers through the introduction of Montessori perspectives on the First Plane child, on education and the role of the adult and an emphasis on Cleanliness, Order and Beauty. The participants were also introduced to Exercises of Practical Life and Spoken Language activities. The second session saw the introduction of materials for sensorial, language and mathematics. The participants were provided a handbook in which they recorded key theory points and presentations. At the end of the session fifty-five Aanganwadi workers received an EsF School in a Box certificate of training in April.
Monthly follow up workshops and mentoring continued till February 2019, focusing on art activities and preparation of materials for activities of daily living.
There has been tremendous interest from several other districts in the Aanganwadi training. We are in the process of putting together guidelines to help these districts to lay the groundwork for the implementation of the program.
2. The Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society:
The TMREIS schools are for children from 5th grade to 10th grade. The society is interested in bringing Montessori principles to the residential units of these schools. Efforts were made to introduce self careand care of the environment following Montessori principles. Children from the Anees ul Gurba, orphanage in Hyderabad were shifted to one of the TMREIS schools. The help and support of EsF Hyderabad, was sought in creating a Montessori environment for these children. Helen, Moiza, Afshan and Khader took up the challenge and set up a Montessori environment. The teacher incharge is regularly mentored in consultation with TMREIS as they move forward. The proposal is to set up 3-6 and 6-9 environments to help these children in their healing and learning process. Later children will be sent to TMREIS to continue their education from 5th grade onwards.
It has been deeply rewarding to contribute to AMI’s Outreach pillar. We are thankful to Montessorians who have embraced this work and willingly given their time and efforts to this work.