COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC KINDERGARTENS
At the beginning of the year, the organization successfully completed a joint project with War Child Alliance and the All-Ukrainian Foundation “Protection of Children’s Rights” entitled “Psychosocial Support for Local Communities.”
The initiative was aimed at developing children’s socio-emotional skills, strengthening teachers’ psychological resilience, introducing the Montessori method, and providing sensory integration materials for preschool children.
Thanks to the project, it was possible to support more than 200 educational institutions, 4,500+ educators, and 8,000+ children in communities across the Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions.
With the support of a private donor, an educational project for 10 frontline kindergartens was implemented between September and November, reaching approximately 650 children.
Educators completed a basic training course on the fundamentals of the Montessori method (30 training sessions) and received starter kits of materials for the practical application of the acquired knowledge in their daily work with children.
According to the evaluation conducted, educators demonstrated a 72% improvement in their understanding of the Montessori method and its practical application.
At the end of the year, the organization began cooperation with the Italian Foundation Helpcode to implement a new project supporting internally displaced families in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
A large analytical table was created and published, bringing together manufacturers available on the Ukrainian market that produce Montessori materials, furniture, printed cards, and other educational resources for institutions and families. This body of work has become a practical tool and a “compass” for educators in preparing for the new academic year.
The organization completed the design of a free materials for the 0–3 and 3–6 age groups, structured by seasons. As an additional resource, child development checklists, observation tables, and collections of thematic seasonal artwork for designing educational environments were created, translated and organised.
On Maria Montessori’s birthday, our team joined the annual family educational event organized by the NGO “Harmony of Development.” We contributed to the creation of a prepared educational environment and assisted in conducting workshops and prize draws. A special highlight of the event was the vibrant art installations created together with children with special educational needs.
The Head of the organization took part in the selection of candidates for the finals of the All-Ukrainian Global Teacher Prize 2026.
ADVOCACY AND PROMOTION OF THE METHOD
In 2025, Montessori UA expanded its presence in the public educational space by launching cooperation with the educational media “Vchysia” (Learn). Within this partnership, 8 joint educational publications were prepared and published, focusing on early childhood education, child development, and pedagogical interaction with families.
On April 29, a special meeting for educators titled “How to Support Yourself and a Child” was held in Kyiv, organized by Montessori UA. Nearly 100 educators took part in the event. Participants explored the scientific foundations of the Montessori approach, discussed ways to involve parents in the educational process, and worked on issues of psychological well-being, focusing in particular on developing a culture of self-care, inner resilience, and self-support practices.
In May, NGO member Liudmyla Shpakovych conducted a workshop, presenting topic “Concentration in Preschool Children” as part of the EdCamp “The Power of the Preschool Community.”
In June, the Montessori UA team joined the country’s largest educational event — the “Teachers of the Future” Festival, organized by Osvitoria and the !FEST emotional holding. Over two days, more than 2,000 educators participated in over 100 events. Montessori UA conducted three original workshops:
- “Early Childhood Education Through the Lens of Neuroscience” (Anna Volokhova)
- “The Art of Concentration” (Liudmyla Shpakovych)
- “Montessori Therapy” (Olha Hotsuliak)
The organization took part in the All-Ukrainian Conference “The Formula of Modern Preschool Education” and was represented by Olena Naumenko, who delivered a presentation titled “From Concrete to Abstract: How Montessori Mathematics Shapes Thinking.”
Within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Forum “Preschool Education 2030,” organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in cooperation with UNICEF, Anna Volokhova presented a report on “Building Pedagogical Cooperation with Families as the Basis for a Healthy Microclimate in Preschool Education Institutions.”
An important step was the decision of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting to allow Montessori UA to participate in conferences for the election of members of the Supervisory Board of the Public Broadcaster. This decision is important because it formally recognises Montessori UA as a national civil society actor and gives the organisation a voice in public media governance, strengthening its ability to advocate for children’s rights, education, and democratic values at a systemic level.
Our team attended events and reported on projects within the educational cluster as part of the humanitarian response to the challenges of war. We also took part in training sessions on project management and educational inclusion and presented our own initiatives on national platforms.
