Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance (AREA)

AREA is the official reference point for the Reggio approach in Africa – as appointed by Reggio Children. We provide professional development on the Reggio approach for educators. To this end, we organize annual conferences, study tours to Reggio Emilia, and offer presentations, workshops, school visits and mentorships. We’re a non-profit company primarily funded by donors and grown through the work of volunteers. You can support our work by becoming a member and helping nurture a Reggio-inspired community of educators in South Africa.
THE REGGIO APPROACH IN CLASSROOMS
The Reggio approach to learning and teaching is a deep-rooted commitment to research and experimentation. The child is seen as the subject of rights who is equipped with enormous potential from birth. Privileged attention is given to children, observation and documentation of their learning processes, relationships, and the exchange of ideas.
The Reggio approach urges us to recognize children as social from birth, full of curiosity and imagination, and having the potential and desire to find connections and meaning in all they experience. We acknowledge their ability to reflect upon and contribute to their own learning through many languages of expression and communication.
The schools in Reggio Emilia act as a mirror and not a model. When we look at the practice and pedagogy of the Reggio Emilia schools we find a provocation to challenge our assumptions and question our practice.

Teaching is informed by continuous questioning, reflection and research.
Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education, said: “There is an inner voce that pushes children on, but this force is greatly multiplied when they are convinced that facts and ideas are resources, just as their friends and the adults in their lives are precious resources. It is especially at this point that children expect – as they have from the beginning of their life adventure – the help and truthfulness of grown-ups.”