FOR some 88 years since the Association Montessori Internationale was established in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori, congresses have taken place regularly to raise worldwide awareness and understanding of Montessori education as well as to provide a platform for Montessori professionals to connect with one another.
The association held its 28th Congress last July 2017 held in Prague some 16 years since the last congress was last held in Europe.
Over 2,000 Montessori professionals, educators and representatives from 71 countries including Filipino participants took part in the 28th International Montessori Congress held in Prague, the Czech Republic on July 27-30, 2017.
The Filipino students came from the Abba’s Orchard School of Bukidnoon and Cagayan de Oro.
The congress provided participants access to more than 80 workshops to learn from success stories from other parts of the world. Filipino participants aged 14 to 18 years old also shared their own stories and spoke of their hopes for the future contained in a manifesto they made before they traveled to Europe for their 6-country tour.
The 15-day European Odyssesy socio-cultural tour was arranged by Filipino MICE provider Sunbee Tours and Travel.
According to Christopher Barrameda, Abba’s director of Erdkinder, the country dispatched the biggest delegation to the coexisting Adolescent Summit. The Filipino youths proved to be one of the most active and brilliant delegates of the congress.
"As the country that sent the biggest group of delegation to the concurrent Adolescent Summit, the Filipino youth proved to be a shinning beacon with the theme Pathway to Peace: Montessori Education for Social Change," Barrameda said.