Looking'back,'2015'seems'a'kaleidoscope'of'contradic9ons—'a'merging'of'good'andbad'in'a'year'where'conflict'and'violence'con9nued'unabated'in'many'countries,'andthe'consequent'wave'of'forced'displacement'and'migra9on'caused'terrible'hardshipfor'many'families.'And,'as'so'oDen,'it'is'the'children'whose'rights'suffer'during'such9mes:'their'healthy'development'can'be'at'risk'through'lack'of'a'secure'environment,trauma9c'experiences,'limited'medical'care'and'months'and'months'without'access'toeduca9on.'

But'we'did'see'a'world'that'increasingly'recognises'the'righIul'needs'of'our'childrenand'the'importance'of'their'future.'This'was'also'borne'out'by'a'global'concern'for'ournatural'environment'and'commitment'to'take'ac9on'on'climate'change.

And'as'we'look'back'over'15'years'of'work'onthe'Millennium'Development'Goals'of'theUnited'Na9ons,'it'is'good'to'realise'that'today84'million'fewer'children'and'adolescents'areout'of'school'than'in'1999.'Also,'globalenrolments'in'preSprimary'educa9onincreased'by'twoSthirds'since'1999,'rising'to184'million.'

Looking'ahead,'the'adop9on'of'theSustainable'Development'Goals,'with'an'enddate'of'2030'(one'of'which'calls'for'inclusivequality'educa9on'opportuni9es'for'all)

heralded'a'recommitment'to'social'jus9ce'and'human'rights.'The'goal'on'inclusiveeduca9on'has,'what'is'in'my'view'a'very''“Montessori”'statement,'as'one'of'its'targets:

'“All'learners'acquire'knowledge'and'skills'needed'to'promote'sustainabledevelopment,'including,'among'others,'through'educa9on'for'sustainabledevelopment'and'sustainable'lifestyles,'human'rights,'gender'equality,'promo9on'ofa'culture'of'peace'and'nonSviolence,'global'ci9zenship'and'apprecia9on'of'culturaldiversity'and'of'culture’s'contribu9on'to'sustainable'development”.

The'Montessori'community'can'happily'embrace'this'commitment'as'reflec9ve'of'ourown'philosophy,'and'be'confident'that'our'aspira9ons'and'our'efforts'are'largely'inaccord'with'the'global'goals.

In'2016'and'in'the'years'ahead,'I'hope'that'our'voice'will'con9nue'to'press'fora`en9on,'not'just'to'access'to'educa9onal'opportunity'for'all'children,'but'to'theoutcomes,'in'educa9on'and'social'development,'which'we'believe'are'essen9al'for'abe`er'world.''Some'quiet'but'extraordinary'changes'hallmarked'our'AMI'year.'New'affiliates'joinedin'April,'con9nuing'the'global'growth'of'our'associa9on,'with'the'poten9al'to'reachmillions'of'families'and'children.'Our'collabora9on'with'some'extraordinary'talentedand'commi`ed'people'bringing'Montessori'for'Ageing'and'Demen9a,'opens'acompletely'new'chapter'in'our'AMI'life.'A'fascina9ng'and'inspiring'effort'that'will'bringenormous'benefits'to'many'elderly.''AMI'is'now'truly'a`ending'to'all'stages'of'humanlife.'I'wish'you'well'in'2016'in'your'personal'life'and'work,'and'look'forward'to'anotheryear'of'learning'and'gecng'to'meet'many'more'of'you.

Philip'D.'O'BrienPresidentAssocia9on'Montessori'Interna9onale