A Word from the Founders
Eight Years of Cultivation: From the Classroom to a Montessori Practice for Life
In 2017, the Y2 Foundation for Future Education was established, and we defined our vision as "Be the Change for Future Education." At that time, carrying the intentions for children's education and a deep resonance with Montessori philosophy, we embarked on a journey to explore the future of education.
In the blink of an eye, eight years have passed. We began with the "Teacher Sponsorship Program" and gradually expanded to public school transformation, the establishment of Taiwan's first residential bilingual Montessori middle school, and the creation of workplace-friendly Montessori pre-school education. If the previous years were about sowing seeds in the soil, then 2025 is the year where many of these efforts have begun to sprout and bear fruit.
To make diverse and affordable educational choices accessible to more families, Y2 and the Taiwan Montessori Education Center (TMEC) at National Chengchi University launched the "Accessible Montessori" program, which seeks to introduce Montessori concepts into the public school system. In 2020, we held a selection event for "Montessori Education in Public Schools," and in 2021, we established partnerships with Taipei Zhongyi Elementary School and Taichung Zhong-Keng Elementary School. After five years of supported transformation, these two schools officially became Public Montessori Experimental Elementary Schools in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
During this same period, the "Montessori Elementary School Tuition-Free Teacher Training Program"—aimed at empowering public school teachers—was also launched, with its second cohort starting in 2025. Building on the experience of the first cohort, this session not only optimized the curriculum structure but also planned for international certification. This attracted current teachers and students from related fields, providing a training option that meets the practical needs of the front-line educators who aspire to practice Montessori methods.
At the same time, Y2 continues to reflect on how Montessori education, which originated in the West, can truly take root and flourish within the cultural context of Taiwan. Montessori preschools and elementary schools have had an earlier start in their development and have a relatively solid foundation in Taiwan, so to fully realize the Montessori educational pathway, we chose to begin at the secondary level, where resources were scarcer. In 2022, the Y2 Montessori School-Adolescent Community (Y2MAC) was established; in 2025, the senior high program followed. Witnessing the growth and transformation of these adolescents over the past three years—exploring themselves through work and study, understanding responsibility through communal living, and constructing their imagination of the future through field trips—we have realized an educational landscape that differs from traditional frameworks. We have also seen how this philosophy rooted in human development can indeed transcend borders, cultures, and ethnicities and be tangibly realized.
Looking back at Y2’s various initiatives, "people" have always been at the core. Without partners who embrace ideals and are willing to act, even the most perfect plans would be difficult to implement. Since its inception, Y2 has held the "Teacher Sponsorship Program" annually, then expanding it into the "Y2 Social Impact Talent Development Program" in 2021. This shift extended our support from teachers to anyone aspiring to create a positive impact on society. To date, we have supported 33 grantees in completing Montessori training both domestically and abroad. Montessori’s human-centered spirit spreads through the power of individuals in every corner of society, as these grantees now serve in primary and secondary schools, early childhood education, community services, and even elderly care across Taiwan.
We envision Y2 as a supportive platform so that all who are passionate about education and are eager for growth can find a path toward realizing their dreams. This 2025 Annual Report records more than just Y2’s achievements; it documents the trajectory of continuous and collective actions of countless participants and partners. We have always believed that education should not stop at the classroom—it is a lifelong journey across the lifespan and a gentle movement that propels society forward. Because of your participation, this positive cycle of change can continue to expand from the field of education to the broader arena of life. Going forward, we anticipate this journey of learning and uncovering even more possibilities together.
Founders of Y2 Foundation for Future Education
Andy Chen
Cynthia Hang
This article is featured in the Y2 2025 Annual Report.