Healthy Kids • Y Stories • YMCA Child Care
YMCA Child Care: a place to learn and grow — for placement students, too!
27 May 2019 - by Dawn Yan
At YMCA Child Care, we give children a solid foundation for learning, ongoing opportunities to explore, and an environment that promotes a sense of belonging. That’s all true for our placement students, too. Since January, Riham, Yussra, and Sarah have been completing their placement student hours with us — and just like the kids they care for, this trio sees our Child Care centres as a place to grow and learn. Twice a week, they volunteer at Toronto Pinnacle YMCA Child Care Centre with our pre-schoolers and toddlers. Currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Leadership (ECL) Program at George Brown College, the three are expected to graduate in 2022 with Bachelors of ECL. Before their time with us comes to an end, I asked them to reflect on their journey with YMCA Child Care.
“Before beginning my placement, I heard many positive things about the environment and the people at the Y,” Riham says when I ask what makes the Y different. “Everyone always talks about how kind the staff are, and how much can be learned from them. Now that my placement is almost over, I can definitely testify to that!”
“The Y is different from other Child Care centres that I’ve worked with,” Yussra agrees. “It’s mainly because it provides volunteers like myself and my colleagues with a sense of belonging. The YMCA has done a truly exceptional job at making sure every person who comes through the door feels welcomed, respected, valued, and loved.”
Sarah chimes in: “Something else that sets the Y apart is definitely the educators. Everyone I’ve come across has been so friendly and always strives to see students like myself succeed. They’re constantly providing us with new knowledge and ideas to take with us throughout our careers and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The Y offers children and families a safe and welcoming environment to come into every day and as placement students, we feel that as well. Thinking back, one of my favourite parts about the Y is the relationships that I’ve formed with supervisors, educators, and children.”
“This place is like a second home to us now,” Yussra adds.
“It’s the relationships I’ve built with everyone here, paired with the warm, welcoming environment, and the knowledge that’s instilled in us that makes me want to stay,” says Riham.
“With all the connections we’ve made here, it’s definitely going to make for some really hard goodbyes on our last day,” Sarah sighs.
For Riham, Sarah, and Yussra, their placement at the Y ended up meaning much more than a school credit. They found a sense of community, a place to call home, and most importantly, support to help them learn and grow. Start your volunteer journey today: join our talented child care team.
“Before beginning my placement, I heard many positive things about the environment and the people at the Y,” Riham says when I ask what makes the Y different. “Everyone always talks about how kind the staff are, and how much can be learned from them. Now that my placement is almost over, I can definitely testify to that!”
“The Y is different from other Child Care centres that I’ve worked with,” Yussra agrees. “It’s mainly because it provides volunteers like myself and my colleagues with a sense of belonging. The YMCA has done a truly exceptional job at making sure every person who comes through the door feels welcomed, respected, valued, and loved.”
Sarah chimes in: “Something else that sets the Y apart is definitely the educators. Everyone I’ve come across has been so friendly and always strives to see students like myself succeed. They’re constantly providing us with new knowledge and ideas to take with us throughout our careers and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The Y offers children and families a safe and welcoming environment to come into every day and as placement students, we feel that as well. Thinking back, one of my favourite parts about the Y is the relationships that I’ve formed with supervisors, educators, and children.”
“This place is like a second home to us now,” Yussra adds.
“It’s the relationships I’ve built with everyone here, paired with the warm, welcoming environment, and the knowledge that’s instilled in us that makes me want to stay,” says Riham.
“With all the connections we’ve made here, it’s definitely going to make for some really hard goodbyes on our last day,” Sarah sighs.
For Riham, Sarah, and Yussra, their placement at the Y ended up meaning much more than a school credit. They found a sense of community, a place to call home, and most importantly, support to help them learn and grow. Start your volunteer journey today: join our talented child care team.
