The Founding of the Montessori Preschool in Sarajevo

In 2004, Heleen Hoogendijk founded a Montessori preschool, the first international preschool in Sarajevo, with a clear and heartfelt vision: to create a warm, stimulating place for young children, a “home away from home” rooted in Sarajevo itself and carried by the women who worked there.

The preschool was established for and by Bosnian teachers. Heleen, from the Netherlands, brought her Montessori experience and knowledge, as well as her connections within the international and diplomatic community, while the Bosnian teachers brought their own language, culture, understanding of the children, and connections with the local community. Together, they created a preschool in which these two perspectives came together naturally.

The school welcomed children from one to six years old, offering them a safe and nurturing environment in which they could grow at their own pace. Following the Montessori approach, the children were encouraged to explore, discover, become independent, and learn through meaningful experiences and carefully prepared activities.

At the heart of the initiative was the belief that good education begins with trust: trust in children, trust in teachers, and trust in the strength of the local community. Although the initiative was led by a Dutch woman, it was never intended to be a Dutch school in Sarajevo. It was a Sarajevan preschool, developed together with Bosnian teachers and for Bosnian and international children.

The founding of the Montessori preschool in 2004 therefore marked more than the opening of a new educational setting. It was the beginning of a collaboration across cultures, built around a shared belief in the potential of every young child.