The Grounded Project is a grassroots early years consultancy working with schools, teachers, and families across Asia.
The Grounded Project began with a simple observation: the biggest changes in how children experience their early years rarely come from new curricula or top-down mandates. They come from everyday choices — how a room is arranged, how a question is answered, how much trust is placed in a child's own pace.
We work with schools, teachers, and families across Asia to turn research-based, child-centred practice into something workable for real classrooms and real homes — honouring local culture and context every step of the way.
Grounded in Reggio Emilia philosophy, we see children as capable, curious, and full of potential — and we treat environments, relationships, and reflection as just as important as any curriculum.
Lasting change happens through grassroots shifts in mindset, one practitioner and one community at a time. That's the pace we work at — collaborative, reflective, and built for the long term, with practice that's uplifted toward international standards while honouring diverse cultures and perspectives.
“At the heart of it, we want to help raise happy, capable, and adaptable children, while giving the adults around them the clarity and confidence to support their full potential.”
Dr. April Rose T. Patagoc is co-founder and director of The Grounded Project, with over 17 years of experience in early childhood education across Asia. Her work centres on creating meaningful, relationship-driven learning communities that support children, educators, and families through thoughtful, responsive practice. April believes in nurturing environments where curiosity, creativity, and authentic connection can flourish.
Grounded in Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy and informed by her academic background, April holds a master's degree in both early years education and education management, and a PhD in educational governance. She has attended professional trainings and educational conferences across Asia and has facilitated workshops and professional development programmes in both Indonesia and Vietnam.
Having worked in the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, April brings a broad international perspective to her work with schools and communities. Her work focuses on supporting educators and organisations in developing child-responsive, play-based, and culturally meaningful learning environments through collaboration, reflection, and sustainable professional growth.
Karen Roodt is co-founder and director of The Grounded Project, with over 12 years of practice in the early years. Karen works at the intersection of research, community, and everyday pedagogy — supporting educators and caregivers to slow down and listen. Karen believes in creating considered, intentional spaces for children and families in order to facilitate connection, collaboration, and curiosity.
Grounded in Reggio Emilia philosophy and informed by her ongoing Masters research in Early Childhood Education, Karen brings a rigorous yet deeply human approach to professional learning. She believes lasting change in how we educate young children happens not through top-down mandates, but through grassroots shifts in mindset — one practitioner, one community at a time.
Her work in Asia focuses on capacity building with educators, families, and organisations, building the conditions for play-based, nature-connected, and child-responsive environments.
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