IT was a passion Western Sydney educator Sylvia Arotin always had – to make a real difference in the world by empowering parents, caregivers and educators with essential skills to support child development and behaviour.
She has managed to do just that and more, and her impressive work in the ever-evolving education industry has recently earned her two gold awards – Woman of the Year and Woman in Early Childhood Education, at the prestigious Women Changing the World Awards, held in London in April, 2025.
The event was hosted by global changemaker Dr Tererai Trent and presented by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.
A little more about Sylvia then. She is the founder and director of My Montessori, a community-based school based on the authentic Montessori principles, where ‘freedom within limits’ is embraced and the belief is that children flourish when trusted and respected.
“We partner with families. Parents are welcomed, supported and educated through their journey. Our programs are a space where both children and parents grow, the idea being bridging the gap between the two to ensure the best outcomes for children,” says Sylvia. Their training programs have supported educators across Blacktown Council, enhancing early learning quality in the region.
And at My Montessori, the educators are not just raising children, as they say – ‘we’re nurturing the next generation of compassionate, capable, and confident human beings’.
Grow & Guide
To maximise impact and take good work beyond the four physical walls of her school, Sylvia took to the online platform, Guide & Grow. The leading Montessori platform is dedicated to nurture children’s growth and unlock their limitless potential.
“I began Guide & Grow on a volunteer basis because I saw how many families needed real, practical support. As I connected with more parents, I realised there was a major gap in the early childhood sector—especially around guiding children’s behaviour and communication in a way that nurtures emotional intelligence,” says Sylvia, adding that some government programs and educator training courses were outdated and did not address these critical areas and she knew some changes had to be made.
Diagnosed with a chronic illness at age 26, that causes a range of symptoms including dizziness, fatigue and heart rate abnormalities when changing positions, Sylvia remained undeterred by odds.
It did bring her way many physical and mental hurdles, but she carried on. “I was determined not to let this illness stop me from pursuing my dreams. In fact, it became a driving force behind my resilience,” says Sylvia.
It was soon after the diagnosis and from her hospital bed that Sylvia designed the logos for her dream school and slowly started building the present-day resources. Guide & Grow’s popularity can be gauged by its growing Facebook community, now standing at 418,000 members worldwide.
A wonderful space where parents and educators can connect, ask questions, share experiences and support one another, Guide & Grow has now become a name to reckon with in the educational space, a true global movement. It offers educational resources, professional development training and an innovative parenting App too.
What the future holds
Sylvia will participate in conferences coming up for Child Australia, FDCA national conference, Montessori International Convention etc. She is also working towards writing a book. And a TEDx talk on conscious communication, looking at ways to make a greater impact in the education sector are also things Sylvia is working on.
“By sharing my story of building a business while navigating a chronic disease, I hope to inspire others who may be facing their own challenges. The resilience I have cultivated has been key to building a supportive, thriving community where we continue to grow and support the future generation, no matter the obstacles we face,” says Sylvia.
By SASWATI MUKHERJEE