Hi! I’m Gina.
I live in Nairobi, Kenya with my husband, two children, and our geriatric cat. I’m an international development and peacebuilding professional with 15 years of experience across the world. I am also a parent educator. I have a Bachelors and Masters in Politics from the University of Pune and the London School of Economics and Political Science respectively. I hold a Montessori Assistant Certification for 0-6 years from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
I am passionate about child development, re-parenting, home education, and all things Montessori!
When my first child was born in 2019, I realised that I didn’t quite have the tools and resources to be able to navigate the complex world of parenting. I started reading and researching and eventually found Montessori. The philosophy and approach aligned so much with our way of thinking and living, how we were already parenting, and how we wanted to raise our child.
I began a journey of self-reflection and learning as I explored other parenting and educational approaches as well. I became a more conscious, respectful, and peaceful parent. I began to heal from my own childhood as well as better understand, prepare for, and respond to my child’s needs.
Learning about the Montessori approach to life and education, and applying the principles at home was life changing for me. I was inspired to share my own journey as well as support parents and caregivers in their own parenting journeys.
As I went deeper into Montessori and other parenting and educational approaches, I felt that there was often a disconnect between the principles and how they were practiced or represented, especially in online spaces. I felt that our experiences as people from the global majority were not reflected, our voices and concerns not heard, and our families not represented. I quickly realised that the global power imbalances and structural inequalities extended into parenting and educational spaces too. I wanted to do something to change this.
As a development and peacebuilding professional working across multiple countries and continents in challenging contexts, I bring this experience and expertise to the parenting world to create lasting impact going beyond individuals and families, attempting to radically transform our unequal and unjust social systems, while re-centering people of the global majority. I attempt to make Montessori and peaceful parenting accessible to all, contextualising it to different environments while staying true to the principles.
I feel so privileged to be able to support families and communities as we raise and nurture our future generations. Thank you once again for being here!