A full tuition scholarship for an AMI primary diploma was awarded to one of the four young adults MGGF sponsored to complete their practicums in 2021. The young woman is working on the first module of her primary studies in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania.

MGGF provided funds to cover her living and transportation expenses from Gulu, Uganda to Dar-Es-Salaam for this first module of training.

Past chapter

Finally and in spite of the pandemic, the four young adults MGGF helped with a teacher training grant, finished their practicums in mid November 2021. Passing their exams with flying colors, they packed up their classroom materials that they had made, and took the bus from Nakuru, Kenya back to their homes in Gulu, Uganda. Below is a photo of the truck carrying the Montessori classroom materials these young people made while in training.

They will begin their teaching careers at Mother Earth Montessori School, working with primary aged (preschool) children. Mother Earth Montessori has been waiting for almost two years for these Montessori-trained teachers, because of the pandemic. Donations received through MGGF made it possible for these young adults to obtain Montessori training. Listen to several of these young people talk about their dreams of using Montessori principles that they learned during their training to help the children of Gulu, Uganda fulfill their full potential.

Our initial grant

COVID19 continued to negatively impact the four student teachers from Gulu, Uganda spring and early summer 2021. As they were traveling to Nakuru, Kenya to begin their practicums, the Kenya-Uganda border was slammed shut due to COVID. The students returned to Gulu, where they gathered stories from families that they will use once they complete their practicums and launch their teaching careers. Two students, Paska Aloyo and Sharon Mitchelle Adong were able to start their practicums at Corner of Hope in mid-May. Morris Odong and Joshua Okello came later after the border reopened.

Happily, all four are now working diligently at Corner of Hope School under the tutelage of Milcah Jerotich Matutu, who manages the school. They are scheduled to complete their studies and exams by early November, 2021 and graduate in mid-November. It’s been a very long, arduous journey for these young people. Once they return to Gulu, they’ll become the first trained Montessori teachers for Mother Earth Montessori School, working with families residing in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Gulu.

In early August, our board member, Brendan Csaposs, who lives and works in Kenya traveled to Nakuru to visit Corner of Hope School and St. Ann’s Montessori Teacher Training College. Brendan met with Paska, Sharon, Morris and Joshua at Corner of Hope. The students reported that they were excited about their work and finishing their studies so they could return home and begin teaching.