Grow and learn with us in 2025!

Learning is a lifelong journey, and as people inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we believe professional development is a right – and also a responsibility! Whether you’re an educator, administrator, public servant, parent, or just someone who resonates with the approach; whether you are new to the approach or have been working with it for some years now, we have three key opportunities to learn and grow already available for 2025! Register now!

#1 New to the approach? Our introductory course, presented in four 2.5 hour sessions on Zoom, might be just the place to begin. You will be introduced to the core principles of the approach, and shown some of the possibilities of applying them in your own context. With multiple dates available across the year, you can find the time that best suits you. Find more details…

#2 Want to go deeper? Whether you are new to the approach or a more seasoned practitioner, there’s nothing quite like a conference cohosted by AREA and Reggio Children to really fire up your sense of what’s possible. Over two days you’ll be accompanied by educators from around South Africa as you’re inspired, provoked and challenged by two highly regarded pedagogistas from Reggio Emilia, Tiziana Filippini and Paola Strozzi. This in-person conference, “Through the eyes of a child: the wonder of learning”, will be happening on 2-3 April 2025 at Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School, Midrand. There is also an optional extra in-depth workshop on 4 April for a smaller number of conference delegates. Find out more and register here… (Registration now closed)

#3 Able to invest more time and money? If you have been working with the approach for some time, and have the rare opportunity of time and funding to further your understanding, then the April 2025 study tour to Italy might be just the thing you need. You’ll be joined by other South African educators inspired by the approach, and joining countless other educators from around the world, for this week-long immersion in the city of Reggio Emilia and its vision of children and social change. Dates are from 5-12 April 2025, and you can find more information here…

We look forward to learning and growing with you!

Wanting more? As ever, if you’d like to arrange an in-person presentation or onsite workshop in your area, please contact AREA Reggio coordinator Tessa Browne directly on tessa@reggio.co.za. School visits to mentor and advise staff can also be arranged.

Free Reggio Children webinar on the wonder of learning

Registration closed! Do you believe in the potential of all children? Join the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance and Reggio Children to discover more about children’s rich potential at a free webinar on the globally acclaimed Reggio Emilia approach. “Through the eyes of a child: the wonder of learning” will take place on 15 October 2024 from 15:00 – 16:30 (SAST)

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Africanarra: Save the date and co-create

Mark your calendar for 24-26 May 2024 to participate in Africanarra, a weekend of storytelling by people inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach in South Africa. Held from Friday 24 May to Sunday 26 May 2024, Africanarra will coincide with, and link to, Reggionarra, the original storytelling event happening in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Anyone inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach in early learning centres, schools, colleges, universities or community centres in South Africa (or anywhere on the African continent) can participate.

Anyone who chooses to participate designs and plans their own storytelling events, including when and where it happens, and the form the event will take.

Imagine lunchtime stories on blankets; stories by torchlight under the stars; stories created and acted out by children or grandparents; stories woven together and animated by students and teachers; actors and musicians in classrooms, halls or public parks. Fairytales and folktales, new stories and old favourites, stories of courage and hope, stories of childhoods long ago, stories for all ages, shadow stories and puppet shows, stories in your mother tongue, stories in mime or sign language.

Photos of storytelling events already happening in Reggio-inspired schools in South Africa

Begin dreaming up what you’d like your storytelling weekend to be like, and engaging the people in your community who can help make it happen. As you firm up details of when, where and how it will happen, we’ll be sending out a form where you can share your event details, so that we in turn we can share your event with others who are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and the power of storytelling.

Interested but have more questions? Get in touch! Contact the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance on admin@reggio.co.za, WhatsApp 082 852 6424, or send a direct message to the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance Facebook page.