Corner of Hope Montessori Education Initiative

July 2025

Since its start in 2010 in the New Canaan refugee camp, the Corner of Hope has shown how Montessori education can take root and thrive in even the most challenging environments. Built by community members and guided by Montessori principles, it has trained 180 teachers—140 at the 3–6 level and 27 at the 6–12 level, including participants from across Kenya and Tanzania. More than 2,000 children have passed through its classrooms, receiving free, high-quality education designed to foster independence, confidence, and practical skills. Over the years, the initiative has expanded to a second site in Kisima and has inspired similar projects, including mobile Montessori classrooms serving pastoral communities in Samburu and East Pokot.

The grant will support one experienced Corner of Hope teacher, who first encountered Montessori education as a young adult in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, to become the first locally trained AMI Trainer in Kenya. She has spent the past nine years teaching and mentoring in Corner of Hope schools and in nomadic Montessori programs, and now will gain the advanced skills to deliver internationally recognized Montessori teacher training. This will make high-quality, accredited courses more accessible and affordable in Kenya, equipping more local educators to bring Montessori education to underserved communities.

With investment in her training, this grant from MGGF strengthens the capacity of Corner of Hope and Montessori for Kenya to expand their reach, maintain high standards, and ensure that children—from refugee camps to remote villages—can benefit from education that builds both academic ability and life skills. It supports a proven, community-driven model that continues to grow, adapt, and serve as an example for similar initiatives in Kenya and beyond.