An adaptive farm-based homeschool coop in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

What is Aya Children's House?

Aya Children's House is an educational program founded by Black mothers and educators dedicated to creating a loving and liberating education solution that prioritizes the holistic development of all children, including children of color. 

We are based at Gathered Waters, a family farm in Great Barrington.

Founding Years (Fall 2023 - Spring 2025)

During the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years, we serve ages 4-6 as a homeschool cooperative and tutoring program. 

We aim to become licensed as an independent, nonprofit elementary micro-school beginning Fall 2025. 

About Our Program

Together with other families, we are crafting a unique program for our children. Here's what you can expect:

This project is named after the Aya symbol. 

Aya (pronounced as “eye–ah”) is part of adinkra—visual symbols linked to the (former) Gyaman kingdom (Côte d’Ivoire) and Ashanti culture (Ghana). The word Aya is derived from the Twi language, and is translated to “fern”. Aya is a symbol of endurance, resourcefulness, and defiance against oppression (Kojo Arthur, 2017) Other translations suggest Aya to mean 'I am not afraid of you', 'I am independent of you'.