Ieda was a teacher of young children in Brazil before moving to the United States in 2018 to pursue a better life and a more secure future.
However, she struggled to learn English and soon realized that to have better job opportunities, she would need to improve her English-language skills. While she had a job that brought in income, she wanted to go back to doing what she loved and open her own daycare center. She would need to learn more English to make her dream a reality.
“Here, I have many opportunities. In Brazil, people [don’t] have as many opportunities. English is difficult but learning English [means] opportunity,” she said.
For Ieda, taking classes at The Immigrant Learning Center (The ILC) was the first step. She started in one of our beginner classes and soon advanced to our intermediate class, growing her vocabulary, improving her conversation skills and, most importantly, building her confidence.
Starting a business can be a whirlwind of completing courses and paperwork, applying for the proper licenses and navigating bureaucracy. Improving her English allowed her to take the proper safety courses, fill out that paperwork and, finally, get her business license!
Ieda no longer takes classes at The ILC but for a great reason: She opened Little Nest Daycare in Lawrence, Massachusetts this fall and is back to doing what she loves.
Give the Gift of a Bright Future
With your gift, students like Ieda can build the confidence they need to give back and succeed.
What motivates me to open my daycare was my love for working with children and my desire to offer a safe education space for family in the community… I have always enjoyed teaching, caring for children and watching their development. I also noticed the need for quality children care in the area, which motivated me even more to create a place where children can learn, play, and feel loved.”
– Ieda, Brazil
“Main Street businesses” play in shaping our communities. According to research published by the Boston Foundation and the Immigration Research Initiative, more than 40 percent of these vital shops and services in the Greater Boston Region are owned by immigrants.
Without a doubt, our local economies and the vibrancy of our communities are shaped by the innovation, entrepreneurship and dedication of immigrants. They make up huge parts of our workforce and start businesses that we rely on in our day-to-day lives.
And behind these statistics are students like Ieda. Ieda wanted to bring her love of caring for children to the United States and she succeeded!