Lilima Montessori High School is training a new Montessori teacher
December 2023
We are now helping to train an additional teacher for Lilima Montessori High School in Eswatini. “Mimi” Fato will be starting her training early in 2024, while she continues working in administration. Just like the previous student MGGF helped fund, she'll be juggling two jobs.
As noted in the application, "Mimi is our glue....She is currently in administration, but came to us as an experienced and qualified English teacher. She holds us all together. She is a strong person who has a great rapport and relationship with our students. She has heart and all of us love her."Clearly, it's a demanding situation. But she is devoted to the students at Lilima and wants to deepen her knowledge of Montessori pedagogy and philosophy. And Lilima needs additional Montessori-trained teachers.
Our volunteer liaisons work diligently to identify those grant applicants whose Montessori initiatives will have the greatest impact. Lilima Montessori HS, the only Montessori high school in Eswatini, serves a vulnerable population, students who don't fit the standard student profile. They might have ADHD, be a Down's Syndrome child, or have any number of other conditions that make them unfit for the regular education system. Lilima is attracting children from all across Eswatini as well as students from nearby South African towns. Our grant committee felt Lilima is having a huge impact on students who otherwise would fall through the educational cracks.
July 2023
Nhlanhla has started his Montessori training program. He’s taking classes outside Lilima while also shadowing teachers within the HS. As our contact, Barbara, reported,
“All is going well, as well as his usual Dance class, he is shadowing all the other guides, doing Maths, Science, Individuals and Society, Design and Language and literature. He has a very good way with the learners and we are sure that he is going to be a great Montessori guide.
He says he is enjoying the course even though it’s a lot of work. No problems so far.”
We’re delighted to learn that his progress is going so well.
Barbara also report that Lilima needs to train an additional teacher.
“We still need to train one other teacher because sadly one of our long term full time teachers will be leaving us at the end of this year and we need to fill the gap.”
Lilima Montessori HS wants to train an additional teacher
It all begins with a need and that’s how Lilima started. A parent of a special needs child wanted an early childhood program for her daughter. But in Eswatini, there wasn’t anything. So in 2005, she and a Montessori teacher launched a school for children who’s educational needs were outside the local educational system.
Fast forward, and now Lilima has a Montessori high school serving those special needs, marginalized, different children. As was noted in their application, “Since the inception of the high school I have seen students who had been labelled in some form or another, grow into exceptional adults, transformed into confident and successful people. Many have succeeded against all odds, after being told they would amount to nothing.”
Success of this kind attracts. That is exactly what is happening at Lilima Montessori HS. Other families whose children do not fit in the traditional school system, both within Eswatini and beyond have come forward seeking to have their children enrolled.
Here is how you can help.
MGGF is funding the teacher training for an additional secondary Montessori teacher. Your donation will enable Lilima to accept additional children once that teacher completes his Montessori training. Make your gift and know that under-served children can become productive citizens. And thank you.
