The Story of the House of Flowers
The House of Flowers orphanage was founded in September 2002 when MEPO first came to Kabul, Afghanistan. Our goal was to establish a safe place for orphan children to live. But it was to be more than just a home: the House of Flowers was designed to also be a rich center of learning and inner growth following the philosophy and structure of a Montessori school and environment.
We wanted to provide the kind of environment that would allow children’s spirits to grow, recovering from the traumas they had experienced in their few years of life, and make them stronger for the challenges that lie ahead. Working closely with our excellent Afghan NGO counterpart, HEWAD, and the government, in December 2002 the house was opened to children.
The teachers and staff were trained in pedagogical and behavioral aspects of Montessori methodologies and psychology. All worked hard to establish an environment of joy, respect and freedom, with self-responsibility and contribution to the whole. The children were encouraged to explore, to ask questions, to cooperate rather than compete, and to talk rather than fight.
In stark contrast to the aggressive and
physical environment that the children came from, in the House of
Flowers problems are resolved with peer mediation, time-out, and
open and clear discussions with the children. 
