Amna’s Story: Feeling seen as an Early Childhood Educator at the YMCA

This week, we’re celebrating our Child Care workers and Early Childhood Educators who nurture curiosity, build confidence, and create spaces of belonging for children and families every day.

Throughout the week, we’re sharing stories from YMCA educators and staff whose compassion and commitment help shape the next generation.

This is Amna’s Story.

When Amna Omer first joined the YMCA Child Care team in 2022, she wasn’t looking for a big change, just a way to reconnect with her passion after taking time off to raise her three children. What she found, though, was more than a job. It was a community that believed in her, supported her, and helped her rediscover her confidence as an educator and leader.

“I had eight years of experience in early childhood education,” Amna recalls. “When my youngest daughter was about to start kindergarten, I thought, maybe it’s time I start something again, just for myself.”

After moving from Manitoba to Ontario and taking a few years away from the workforce, Amna joined the YMCA as an Early Childhood Assistant. She wanted to ease back into the work she loved, but it didn’t take long for her to find her rhythm again, and for her talent to shine.

“I started in September, and by December, my manager Melissa sent me an email saying she’d put my name forward for a supervisor position,” Amna says with a smile. “That moment really wowed me. It was more than a promotion—it was a sign that someone believed in me. I had never experienced that before.”

For Amna, that moment was transformative. “In my past experience, I always had to prove myself, but I was never appreciated or acknowledged,” she explains. “At the YMCA, it was different. Melissa came into my life like sunshine. She had confidence in me when I didn’t have it in myself. That gave me a sense of belonging I’d never felt before.”

Building belonging for every child

That same sense of belonging is what Amna strives to create for every child who walks through her program’s doors. Her mornings begin early—setting up activity tables for art, dramatic play, building, and sensory exploration—and her days are filled with laughter, learning, and connection.

“Inclusion is one of our biggest values at the YMCA,” she says. “We make sure every child feels like they belong.”

Amna recalls one child who was diagnosed with selective mutism—a condition that made verbal communication difficult. “He wouldn’t speak at all at first,” she explains. “So I started greeting him at the door every morning with a smile. He would look at me, smile back, and that was our way of saying, ‘I’m okay, I’m ready.’”

Through consistent routines, visual supports, and patient care, Amna helped him find comfort and confidence in the program. “It’s the little things—having their artwork on the wall, keeping their projects safe, showing them that their space matters,” she says. “That’s how you help a child feel like they belong.”

Partnership with families

For Amna, communication with families is just as important as connection with children. She makes time every day to speak with parents during drop-off and pick-up, sharing quick updates or special moments from their child’s day.

“Even if it’s just a two-minute chat, I do it,” she says. “When parents tell me that my smile makes them feel welcomed, or that hearing about their child’s day helps them feel at ease. It means the world to me.”

Her approach builds trust, which makes difficult conversations easier when challenges arise. “When you’ve built that relationship, you’re not afraid to call a parent and say, ‘Today wasn’t a great day, but I’m here to help and support your child,’” Amna explains. “They know you care.”

A community that lifts you up

It’s this culture of care and teamwork that makes working at the YMCA so special to Amna. “Here, it’s not about climbing the ladder,” she says. “We lift each other up. We’re a team.”

She’s grateful for the encouragement she’s received from her manager and colleagues, and she pays that positivity forward. “I don’t like workplace drama,” she says with a laugh. “I believe in open communication and positive energy. When you’re happy, it reflects in your work, and the children feel it too.”

Amna’s journey is one of rediscovery, resilience, and recognition. From taking a leap back into the workforce to becoming a leader who helps children and families thrive, she’s found her place at the Y.

“The YMCA has given me more than a career,” Amna says. “It’s given me a community that believes in me, and that’s something truly special.”

This week and every week, we celebrate child care professionals like Amna— the educators, mentors, and advocates who help children grow into confident, compassionate, and curious people.

Thank you for helping every child feel that they belong. 

#ECEAppreciation #CareCounts #GreaterTogether #YMCAChildCare