Adopt-A-Classroom

When we first launched our Adopt a Classroom campaign on GlobalGiving, we hoped that the story of our Montessori preschool—tucked into a vulnerable but vibrant South African community—would stir hearts and draw support. We envisioned each classroom being matched with a sponsor who understood the value of consistent, high-quality early childhood education for children growing up in complex, often fragile circumstances.

We’ve come to you today to share an honest update: to date, this particular project has not yet received any direct funding through the GlobalGiving platform. That’s a difficult sentence to write, and an even harder reality to hold, especially when we see firsthand the transformation that happens in our Montessori classrooms every day. But in the face of that silence, we are still sure—this is the way.

What your support would mean

In a world where the cycle of poverty too often begins with a lack of access to safe, nurturing learning environments, our classrooms are defiant little havens of hope. We are currently sustaining three multi-age Montessori classrooms for children aged 2 to 6. These children include those born to teenage mothers, those in kinship or foster care, and those whose parents are unemployed, undocumented, or otherwise unable to access quality early education.

Each classroom is led by a trained Montessori teacher, assisted by a classroom aide and supported by a loving team that includes art and music facilitatators, and volunteers from our Embrace Village community. Our teachers receive regular professional development and emotional support to help them navigate the complex realities their learners face.

The Adopt a Classroom model was created to help us raise the necessary resources per month per classroom to cover salaries, Montessori materials, food, and basic maintenance. It’s a simple idea: a village of sponsors helping a village of children.

What we’ve learned so far

One of the most sobering lessons of this journey is that good ideas don’t always gain traction quickly, even when they are urgent and necessary. We’ve also realised that storytelling—and story finding—is a muscle we are still strengthening. While the needs around us are great, and the daily work is full of grit and grace, translating this into a digital call for support requires a different kind of time and attention—both of which are hard to come by when hands are full with children.

We’ve also learned that the lack of immediate funding is not the same as failure. The work continues. The children are still coming through the gate in the morning, and still leaving in the afternoons fed, settled, and wiser. One of our youngest, a four-year-old named Neo*, came to us without any words, having experienced multiple disruptions in his care. This week, he told his teacher, “I like it here. It’s quiet and kind.” That’s the kind of success we don’t measure in dollars.

Where we’re going next

We are rethinking how we communicate this project beyond and better and we are exploring more intimate ways of inviting people to connect—whether through direct sponsorships, donor circles, or through storytelling experiences that show the soul of what happens in our classrooms. We are also working on a video diary series with our team to introduce the teachers and children more personally to prospective donors.

Our community remains generous, and our faith in the Montessori method—especially for children whose early environments have lacked safety and predictability—remains strong. We have seen again and again how a calm, orderly classroom, filled with hands-on materials and warm adult presence, can gently reverse some of the damage done by chaos and neglect.

We are still sure this is the way

We know that not everyone will see the immediate results of supporting a Montessori preschool in a semi-rural corner of South Africa. But we also know this: if we can give a child at least three years of safety, stimulation, and love at this most formative stage of development, we are altering the trajectory of their whole life. That is not a small thing.

So, while this particular campaign has not yet yielded the financial support we hoped for, we remain deeply committed to its purpose. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for standing with us—not only when it’s easy and triumphant, but also when it’s quiet and faithful.

We’re still walking. We’re still hoping.
We’re still sure this is the way.

With gratitude,
Pippa Jarvis
On behalf of the children and team at Embrace Village

*Name changed for confidentiality