IndabaINSTITUTECoursesINDABA INSTITUTE · SOUTH AFRICA
A place to learn, practise and grow alongside people devoted to childhood. Discover Montessori education, community-rooted teacher development and a thoughtful home for lifelong learning.
A HOME FOR LEARNING
Rigorous learning.
Thoughtful guidance.
A place to belong.
STEP INSIDE INDABA
Meet the spirit of the Institute through film, then discover the people who give our work its character.
Watch on YouTube · Video loads when you choose to play.
WELCOME
Education begins long before a lesson. It begins with the way we look at a child, prepare an environment, listen, notice and respond. At Indaba, knowledge and practice grow together — in the company of thoughtful guides, peers and communities.
Life as a learnerSTUDY WITH US
From your first encounter with Montessori to classroom practice, school leadership, community education and care in the home. Seven pathways, each with a distinct purpose — including CARE for caregivers in the home.
AMI · Diploma
010–3years
Prepare to guide children through the first three years of life. This diploma brings Montessori pedagogy together with developmental study, observation and practical work in infant and toddler environments.
AMI · Diploma
023–6years
Prepare to guide a Montessori Children’s House for children aged three to six. Study child development and the purposeful use of practical life, sensorial, language and mathematics materials, supported by observation and teaching practice.
AMI · Certificate
033–6years
Discover how to support children and the guide in a Montessori Children’s House. This introductory certificate develops understanding of observation, independence, language and the prepared environment; it is distinct from the full 3–6 teaching diploma.
AMI · Diploma
046–12years
Prepare to guide children aged six to twelve through an interconnected exploration of the world. Study Montessori elementary development and Cosmic Education, linking language, mathematics, sciences, history and the arts through imagination and enquiry.
CoRE · Community programme
050–6years
Develop Montessori-rooted practice within your own community. CoRE supports practitioners working with children from birth to six to strengthen observation, prepare supportive environments and create learning materials using local resources.
Leadership · Certificate
06All agesLeadership
Lead a Montessori school with a stronger understanding of its educational purpose. This certificate supports aspiring and experienced school leaders in building healthy communities, supporting staff and families, and planning for sustained quality.
CARE · Caregiver programme
070–6years
Bring confidence, attention and practical skill to the care of young children at home. CARE combines Montessori-informed child development with everyday routines, professional communication, nutrition and care for the natural world.
THE WAY
01
Attend to development, movement and the child’s own activity.
02
Create conditions for independence, concentration and belonging.
03
Let observation, reflection and mentoring deepen your work.
ROOTED HERE · CONNECTED TO THE WORLD
Alongside Montessori teacher education, Community Rooted Education supports practitioners to connect developmental understanding with everyday practice — using the resources, relationships and knowledge already present in their communities.
Explore CoREOUR PEOPLE
Meet educators, facilitators and colleagues whose experience connects the classroom with the wider community.
Head of Training
Jennifer brings decades of Montessori experience in Cape Town to the preparation of adults. Her work with community-based practitioners connects an understanding of child development with the relationships and environments that shape everyday life.
Senior Community Liaison Officer
Nomvelo connects practitioners, facilitators and the Institute team. Since joining Indaba in 2017, she has supported CoRE enquiries, admissions and the processes that help educators find their way into learning.
Consultant & mentor
Pru’s contribution spans teaching, Montessori training and educator development. She introduced the CoRE pilot in Kayamandi in 2021 and mentors facilitators, connecting decades of experience with community-rooted practice.
AMI Auxiliary Teacher Trainer · Birth to three
Zoe prepares educators to support children from birth to three. The founder of Studio Montessori in San Francisco, she brings international experience to teacher education and helps schools strengthen the preparation and support of their early-years teams.
AMI trainer · EsF CoRE developer
Uma connects Montessori teacher education with community-rooted practice. Director of blended 3–6 training at MINT, she helped develop AMI’s blended training approach and designed EsF CoRE. Her work with communities around the world centres on children’s rights and meaningful access to early education.
Regional Programme Coordinator
Linh brings a background in education, languages and programme coordination to AMI. She holds a business administration degree from Hanoi University and a master’s in TESOL from Victoria University in Melbourne, and previously taught English to children and young people in Vietnam.
PROOF IN PRACTICE
A shelf brought within reach. An activity made easier to choose. A practitioner taking time to observe. Field reporting invites us to examine these changes carefully, with context and proportion.
Explore the evidence
CARE · CAREGIVER TRAINING
A twenty-day, hands-on programme for adults caring for young children at home. Explore Montessori-informed development, daily routines, communication with families, nutrition and earth stewardship.
Explore CARE caregiver training
STUDENT LIFE
Bring curiosity and the experiences that have shaped you. We want study to feel both challenging and welcoming, with room to ask questions and make connections between knowledge and life.
What to expect
THE NEXT CHAPTER · A VISION IN DEVELOPMENT
The University of the Child is Indaba’s long-term vision for education, research, living landscapes and human gathering. The Institute is its first chapter.
Explore the visionAN INVITATION