Childcare Success Story
Childcare skills trainer Hafifa Abdi has been no small part of our success. Having first arrived in the US as a refugee from Somalia over twenty years ago, Hafifa brings a perspective to childcare development that our clients can understand. The high level of business competency that we see with our entrepreneurs is no doubt encouraged by Hafifa’s thorough and engaging style of instruction.
After sitting through a recent training held in Kent, I noticed the way that Hafifa could quickly shift from an important safety lesson on household CPR practices, to a light-hearted singing activity. All the while, her pupils remained attentive and eager to participate with follow-up questions. Whether from Iraq, Burma, Sudan, or Somalia, it was clear to me that Hafifa could address the audience in a way that spoke to their shared experiences as refugees and asylees. As Hafifa put it, they seemed to understand that “this childcare business is tough, but they all know how to do it. You should really have fun with it.”
Outside of the training room, Hafifa’s presence has also been felt. With over 15 years experience as a home childcare provider, she has paved the way for newer refugees who might be unfamiliar with or daunted by the task of opening a business. To help them with their apprehension, Hafifa has done everything from translate fliers and business cards for clients, to help them identify vendors that sell childcare business supplies in the Puget Sound area.
Most recently, Hafifa has expanded her work in the education industry to start her own consulting business, Washington Childcare Training Service (WCTS). While continuing to provide high quality classroom training, Hafifa will also be providing one-on-one technical services to clients who have difficulty accessing Washington state’s new online daycare orientations.
We are proud to have Hafifa be such an important resource in our new program, and look forward to another year of shared success. For every student enriched by her hard work, we are sure that they too look forward to continued partnership with the person they affectionately call “my teacher.”