EsF Podcasts

In the 2nd Episode of 2019 EsF Assembly Podcasts, Judy Mugambi and Milcah Jerotich, teachers from the Corner of Hope school and the offshoot nomadic Samburu schools, will share how the schools were set up, which difficulties the team dealt with working under challenging circumstances and what kind of change came about over the years. They speak about how Corner of Hope was a vital part of the healing process, overcoming the effects of trauma experienced by forced displacement, in creating a sense of community and building skills that will accompany both adults and children. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 1st Episode of the 2019 EsF Assembly Podcasts, we will listen to Linda Nathan, EdD, the Executive Director of the Center for Artistry and Scholarship (CAS) and the founding headmaster of the Boston Arts Academy (BAA), who talks about art and creativity as the key to learning. She investigates the assumptions that inform our ideas about education today and explains why the arts are a critical part of a young person’s education, by drawing on the stories of students. In her work, Linda explores how educators can better serve all students, increase college retention rates, and develop alternatives to college that do not disadvantage students on the basis of race or income. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the last Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Professor Shadrick Mazaza speaks about transformation, authenticity and human potential. He gives his ideas on the ways to harmonize the development and integration of the African continent and on the challenges that Africa faces nowadays. Shadrick describes three types of transformation: personal transformation, inter-personal transformation and socio-economic transformation. He explains that in order to understand the human, one needs to understand their own set of values which is unique to every person, bearing in mind that our values dictate what we see and how we react to situations. These values are dynamic and are always evolving. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Catherine Kennedy. We hope that you have enjoyed the series of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts. This series will soon be published on our website so that you can always have access to your favourite episodes. Stay tuned and learn more about the EsF Assembly 2019! Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 9th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Benjamin Stähli from Switzerland presents the Montessori Architecture Patterns in the design of educational spaces. He describes the historical background of Montessori Architecture and defines the concept of “Montessori Patterns”. Benjamin speaks about the paradigmatic differences leading to the fundamentally different architectural forms of the educational environment and explains how the “Montessori Patterns” project sets out to explain these differences with the purpose of aiding those who are interested in the design process of Montessori schools. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 8th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts Jess Schulschenk, Director of the Sustainability Institute, introduces us to the Lynedoch Eco-village concept. It was established in 1999 to set up a community for indigent farmworkers in the area of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Lynedoch Eco-village has partnered with Indaba Montessori Institute to provide quality training for teachers and a holistic environment for the youngest children. It is a place where everyone becomes connected through work and care for the community. In conclusion, Jess explains how the wetland works and how solar energy has become part of the housing in Lynedoch. The presentation is followed by a vivid discussion with the assembly participants. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In the 7th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Stan Ferguson, Lumin Education Family Therapist, speaks about the place of the child in the family. He describes the work that the Lumin Bachman Lake Community School currently does as regards the development of the child. The school understands the urgency of education and awareness within the first years of life this is why parents are encouraged to enter a collaborative relationship with the school in raising the children in a challenged community: challenges facing this community are poverty, lack of documentation for migrants in the community and the real concern of being deported and the uncertainties of the repercussions that this may have on children and families. This involvement has proven to have a positive effect on the support, investment and involvement that parents have with the school. The Early for Us program focuses on parent knowledge, training and weekly home visits for around 90 minutes with the trained adult and parents. Stan believes that by listening to someone’s story, we take on part of their story. By listening in earnest to the migrant families that Stan has worked with, he continues to strive to offer the best support and help to parents and teachers, enabling parents to be teachers for their children during the first years. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive "Dance with me" Chloe Hall BY NC SA

In the 6th Episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, Mignon Hardie speaks about Language as the Foundation of Community. She presents the concept of stories that have the power to change lives, combating the high rate of illiteracy in South Africa. FUNDZA, a South African nonprofit dedicated to improving literacy among teens and young adults, aims to provide the foundation for a healthy, stable, growth-oriented society – of which literacy is the cornerstone. Mignon brings up the possibilities of reaching people through cellphone literature, promoting language learning and encouraging writing for expression. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In our fifth episode of the EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts, neuroscientist Dr Adele Diamond shares her research on the link between creativity and brain development. She introduces the El Sistema music initiative aimed at uniting the community and helping children by means of music. Children who struggle academically get more motivated and active while playing an instrument. This observation underlies The Recycled Orchestra concept, where children play musical instruments made from scrap materials. Adele also speaks about the Youth Circus where children are expressing themselves regardless of their age, gender, body type, race, experience or skill through the art of circus. Another initiative, Quat Props centres around juggling that is accessible to all. Moving the art of juggling from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane allows anyone to experience juggling which has many benefits overall, specifically when building neurological pathways. In conclusion, Adele puts a finishing touch to her brilliant speech by discussing ways to strengthen and exercise the executive functions of inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility and enumerates the factors that have negative effects on executive functions. This already musical episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by the amazing Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

The mother tongue is the language of our heart❤️ In the 4th episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “Language as Foundation of Community”, Susan Nyaga from Kenya speaks about the importance of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education. She defines the mother tongue as the language through which a child first learns to express himself as well as the language through which a person perceives the world around him. Nowadays, only 62% of the population has access to education in their mother tongue. The African languages are officially recognized in very few countries on the African continent. Considering that the child learns best when taught in his mother tongue, more needs to be done to facilitate education through the means of the mother tongue in the school environment to ensure more efficient learning, better communication and, eventually, a happier childhood. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

How can we support people with Dementia by honouring their strengths, interests, and abilities? In our third episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “May You Live Every Day of Your Life”, Anne Kelly, Montessori Dementia Consultant, speaks about Maria Montessori’s philosophy as a perfect mission statement for aged care. She explains that thinking in challenges and obstacles does not work and that solutions need to be found in order to ensure quality of life for those living with dementia. Providing the elderly with order, choice, music, and activities that make them feel like valued members of society, leads to notable changes in their quality of life. The implementation of Montessori principles for the elderly and people with Dementia, has had a significant impact on relationships between carers, residents, and family. In conclusion, Anne speaks about what it means to honour and respect our elders, not only throughout their time on earth but also how they depart from life. We need to honour those who have gone before us for who they were and what their contribution to humanity is. This episode features a beautiful bonus song presented by Kuyasa Kids from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In our second episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “Building Community”, co-founder of the Lynedoch Ecovillage and Sustainability Institute Eve Annecke shares her journey to Lynedoch. Eve believes that we do not choose our place in the world, rather, we are chosen by a place, and turning our back on the place that we have been chosen by is turning our back on our soul. She accentuates the importance of connecting through speaking to one another, in a world where we tend to communicate via impersonal mediums which remove the personal human connection. Our experiences need to be taken seriously and each experience comes with validity. Eve speaks about the essence of being able to be in a place of stillness, where one can reflect on our elders, our dreams and perhaps draw the answers to bring about great change through the timelessness of being still. There is a need to create and honour stories of our time and place, focusing on the rhythm of spoken language and embracing our voices. What does it mean to be human? A question for all to give meditative thought to. This episode features two bonus tracks by Drum Café and our colleagues Sr Dorosella, Jovitha, Beth, Rose, Terry, Loise and Hillary uncovering passionate rhythms and serene melodies of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive BY NC SA

In this very special, first episode of EsF Assembly 2018 Podcasts “A Sense of Place” we will listen to South African Montessori pioneers Naledi Mabeba & Bukelwa Selema who share impressions about their work and life in South Africa. Naledi speaks about the difficulties that she faced when first working with the children in the Western Cape and how to work towards building understanding and be accepting of others and embracing their differences. She encourages adults to think out of the box top explore ways to reach these children and to support them to reach their potential. Bukelwa, in her turn, shares her story of personal evolution: having spent childhood in a rural area during the years of Apartheid she foregrounds the negative influence of Bantu education on people of South Africa and future generations of teachers, in particular. Therefore, she believes that nowadays the biggest challenge of all is finding the right person for the environment. She stresses out that all South Africans regardless of culture or race are in a perpetual state of post-traumatic stress from the effects of apartheid. Only once the wounds of the past have begun to heal, change can take place. Bukelwa is adamant that this healing and change can begin by through Montessori education, through creating awareness and making Montessori education accessible to all. Music: "Raro Bueno" by Chuzausen From the Free Music Archive "Dance with me" Chloe Hall BY NC SA