Advocate for the rights of children and adults to have access to nurturing, developmentally appropriate, educational environments. Uphold quality standards whilst reaching out to collaborate and partner with individuals, communities and organisations who share these values. The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is a leading world authority in Montessori education and child development studies. From its international headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, AMI directs the work of AMI Montessori Training Courses all over the world ensuring rigourous standards in the delivery of the theory and practice. AMI awards diplomas and certificates to students of AMI training centres who complete the requirements. AMI functions as the source of complete Montessori training, and a centre for continuing research and development. Montessori education is based on scientific foundations of the natural development of human beings. It seeks to create the right environment for healthy human development and is universally applicable to children from birth to adulthood and for the elderly members of society. Children who experience a Montessori education are guided to think independently but work collaboratively, whilst building respect and appreciation for other people and the environment around them. The result is an educational approach that will have a social impact on the world. AMI is a global NGO. The vision of the organisation is to support the natural development of human beings throughout their lives, enabling them to contribute positively to society, fostering a more peaceful world through education. AMI works with educators, school leaders, governments, community leaders and researchers to continue Montessori’s legacy of education for a more peaceful and just society.

AMI offers courses at affiliated training centres in more than 40 countries. AMI Montessori diploma programmes are offered to qualify teachers to work with children at 4 stages of development – 0-3 years, 3-6 years, 6-12 years and 12-18 years.

AMI delivers certificate courses to offer an overview of Maria Montessori’s philosophy on human development. Recently certificate courses have been developed to train caretakers of the elderly. An online course offers basic knowledge on how to integrate sports into Montessori environments across all ages. Qualified AMI trainers provide these Montessori techniques and principles, so that they can be used in a variety of settings.

AMI publishes a newsletter and a journal for their members. These publications share news of the organisation and the international Montessori community and provide further reading of Montessori and a broader view of education.

The AMI website makes available many resources for its visitors. There are videos filmed in Montessori environments for different ages, a photo library, the life and work of Maria Montessori, research sources, a bank of Montessori quotations, handouts and presentations.

To propagate Montessori principles globally, particularly to reach it to those without access, AMI works with AMI Affiliates in different parts of the world. The Educateur sans Frontiers (Education without Borders) division of AMI seeks to connect and enable the communities to assist or support child development through self-help or sponsored educational initiatives.

Maria Montessori in her lifetime took her approach across the world, to train teachers and work with children in all societies. Montessori education has grown into the largest international education movement in the world, with Montessori education present in almost 150 countries.Today AMI works to ensure the reach of her ideas worldwide, across socio-economic, regional and national boundaries.