Montessori Greece
Τhe Montessori Greece training centre is the only AMI-accredited training institution for Montessori pedagogy in Greece since 2002. AMI-certified professionals are considered the most trusted Montessori educators, not only in Greece, but internationally as well.
Montessori Greece operates under the umbrella of “The Educational Initiative” (Ekpaideftiki Protovoulia AMKE), as does the affiliated Montessori Children’s House “The Montessori House of Glyfada”. The Educational Initiative is a non-profit organisation. Its purpose is to support education in Greece in accordance with the pedagogical principles of Dr. Maria Montessori, as defined by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), which Dr. Montessori founded in 1929, in order to preserve the integrity of her method. The vision and mission of The Educational Initiative, and of its President, Irene Fafalios, is to make the Montessori approach widely known in Greece as an educational approach which serves as an aid to life, which leads to a brighter future.
Adherence to the authentic implementation of the approach, ensures its effectiveness in developing each child’s potential. Montessori Greece actively contributes to achieving this goal, through the translation, scholarly editing, and republication of Dr. Maria Montessori’s works in Greek, making authentic Montessori thought more accessible to educators, parents, students, scholars, and the general public.
Since its founding to the present day, Montessori Greece, has trained more than 500 Montessori educators and assistants who have received AMI certifications for children aged 0–3, 3–6, 6–12, and 12–18. In recent years, Montessori education has spread both within and beyond the Attica region, with the opening of several schools that Montessori Greece offering support and mentorship. In recent years, the Montessori approach has also been extended to include the elderly, people with disabilities, and people living with dementia. Approximately 50 individuals have already been trained in various locations throughout Greece and abroad. Finally, lectures and short seminars introduce the Montessori approach to approximately 500 interested individuals each year.
However, education does not end with the completion of studies: Montessori Greece considers the ongoing support of its graduates (whether they remain in Greece or go abroad), to be an important part of its mission. Creating a Montessori community of schools, parents and students, that support one another and share a common vision, is one of its primary goals