Montessori Training for East Pokot Teachers

In December 2020, a fundraising effort was launched to support the Montessori training of teachers from East Pokot. Thanks to everyone who supported the campaign via GlobalGiving and other channels, a total of 30,000 euros has been raised.

Our local partner Montessori for Kenya (MfK) organised a first meeting in November 2020 for key stakeholders, which was attended by community leaders and other key representatives from Pokot, the principal of St. Ann’s Montessori college, Sr. Veronica Wambui and the head of the education office of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru. The CEO of MfK Hillary Korir, and Sr Veronica Wambui introduced the Montessori method and the teacher training trajectory that trainees at St. Ann’s follow. The participants of the meeting reacted very positively towards the Montessori method and training and expressed their interest in collaboration to establish Montessori classrooms in Pokot. A call for interviews was then sent out through the village representatives and in December 2020, Hillary Korir and Sr. Veronica Wambui visited East Pokot to conduct interviews. Three trainees were selected based on their interest and motivation. A high school diploma was required, and personal circumstances were also taken into consideration. Linet, Moureen and Evelyne impressed the interviewers and were selected to follow the training at St. Ann’s Montessori college.

Linet is from Tangulbei village. She completed secondary education and always wanted to pursue further education, but had not been able to do so due to financial constraints. Linet wants to follow the Montessori training so she can guide the children from her community to achieve their dreams.

Moureen is from Kositei village. She completed secondary education, but lacked the means to pursue further education so worked in farming to sustain her family. She was inspired by a Montessori trained teacher from her community and decided to apply for Montessori training.

Evelyne is from Tangulbei village. She is the fourth born to a family of six. Evelyne finished her secondary education in 2019. She always had an interest in teaching children, which is why she applied for the Montessori training.

In January 2021, Moureen, Linet and Evelyne started their training at St. Ann’s Montessori college in Nakuru. They have been in training for almost three months and are learning more about Montessori theory and practice each day and have also started to make their very own set of Montessori materials. 

All trainees are very excited about the training. “It has been very interesting to learn about the methodology and to make the materials”, Linet says. Evelyne shares that she has enjoyed her first weeks of training: “I especially love the practical life activities and the material making”. Moureen is so enthusiastic about the training that she is already inquiring about learning opportunities beyond the certificate level. 

A second group of trainees from the Pokot community is expected to start their Montessori training in the second half of 2021. We are happy to share these positive developments with you and would like to sincerely thank you for your support for Montessori teacher training for the Pokot community, ultimately increasing access to quality education for children in East Pokot.

Links:

• https://montessori-esf.org/