Provider Success Stories: Khadra and Saida
Interview with Khadra Hassan
“The technical support team has helped me to the best of their ability, Hafsa Mohamed specifically has helped me with the Renovation grant and multiple other grants but that one was a big project, and it was eventually approved.I cannot even begin to put into words how beneficial it has been and how thankful I am to them for their support. I get informed of new grants and latest updates all the time; they also host information sessions which are helpful. Having a support team who are in the system and consist of people who speak the same language as me and have the same culture creates a sense of confidence to be able to ask them any questions I might have. These services are particularly important to have available to providers like me because they work to bring useful grants and information to my attention.
It makes me comfortable hearing things being explained in my language and it is more important than receiving that same information in English because some of us have a language barrier. Even if we talked all day, I could not effectively communicate how important it is to receive this help from Voices of Tomorrow. I am glad I found them. They are different from other services because of the specific community they focus on, in this country there is systemic racism and staff that have the same background are more likely to help you more sincerely while other people could be biased towards you based on your skin color or name. There are stereotypes on people speaking a different language they automatically might assume you don't have the ability to understand, which is not true it's just that there is a language barrier and most of us have learned and become successful in our homeland but how do you get that across to someone who doesn't speak the same language? Language does not equal knowledge because most of us have wisdom and have been through hardships like civil war, but we are still resilient.
So having someone from the same background supporting you is not something to take lightly. It creates comfortability to ask any question you might feel you need to know and guide you in the right direction even if something goes wrong while you might restrict yourself with another person based on the possibility that it might be taken out of context.”
Interview with Saida Alim
VOT: “Tell me about your experience with the support team in your own words?”
Saida Alim: “I attended several information sessions about grants. It helped me understand the grant better and decided if it was a good fit for me beforehand. Each session breaks down deadlines and what to prioritize, so overall it has been extremely helpful. The first grant I worked with Voices of Tomorrow on was the Child Care Stabilization grant, they focused on receipt collection, penalties, what is allowed and what is not, and most of all it helped me prepare in case there was an audit. They gave us diverse ways to not only keep track of our receipts but to prevent them from getting deleted or going missing. The session helped me be more mindful of how I currently keep track of my receipts. These sessions are an effective way to give providers the confidence to apply for funding and use it for what it is meant for.”
VOT: “Why is it important to have services like this available to childcare providers?”
Saida Alim: “The better question is why would it not be important? It is people from your own community teaching you step by step on how to successfully comply with WAC requirements, rules, and policies, how to troubleshoot your handbook in case there is a grant coming up and you do not have the correct wording to apply. VOT (Voices of Tomorrow) speaks on behalf of providers when it comes to DCYF (Department of Children, Youth, and Families) with things like daycare providers being shut down for minor things that could have been prevented. VOT is a backbone for providers because they have someone that is a representative of them that speaks their language and has the same background, so I believe VOT is a valuable tool for providers.
VOT: “Would you recommend the service to others?”
Saida Alim: “In a heartbeat. Just knowing that they are there for me gives me ease, if I have a question that they are there to answer it. Just by their existence, I know I have support even if I do not use some of their other services. If more providers knew the benefits of some of the programs I have participated in, they would be singing songs about you all.”
2023 Auction and Gala Fundraiser raises over $100,000 for East African early learning facility.
The Voices of Tomorrow Auction Gala on Friday, June 9th, 2023 at the Golf Club at Newcastle was a glamorous and fun-filled evening that left a lasting impact on the donors, distinguished guests, and the future legacy of VOT. Set against a gorgeous backdrop with panoramic views of Seattle and Bellevue, guests arrived with excitement, dressed to the nines, ready to support our cause and make a difference. Thanks to the success of this event, Voices of Tomorrow raised about $100,000 to go toward building the first East African Early Learning Center in the region. It will enable us to serve even more families and children through behavioral health programs and additional early learning classrooms.
The live auction took center stage at the gala, offering up exclusive items and experiences for bidding. The items up for auction included beautiful works of art, hand carved African artifacts, a cabin stay near Mt. Rainier and a week-long resort stay in the Bahamas. The attendees inspiring’ enthusiasm and generosity played a big role in creating a successful night to remember. The funds raised will undoubtedly empower Voices of Tomorrow to continue our invaluable work, supporting and guiding the East African community through trauma counseling, healing, and mental health programs. Our donors and sponsors played a crucial role in making all this possible, showing incredible support and generosity. To all who attended, your belief in the mission of Voices of Tomorrow and your willingness to contribute will always be remembered.
We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering commitment to nurturing the voices of the future. We also express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated team of volunteers, event organizers, and staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring flawless execution with their meticulous planning, attention to detail, and passion for the cause. We look forward to the fruits of our labor, and continuing our valuable work to ensure each child grows up to be successful and proud of their heritage!
Join us at our Voices of Tomorrow Job Fair!
It is important to invest in cultivating a healthy world for tomorrow’s children. One of the best ways to create such a world is to serve these children at the root of their development. We are hiring Early Learning roles to help support Voices of Tomorrow’s preschool! There are many other roles within the agency such as Policy and Advocacy, Health Services, and Operations roles that are also open!
We would like to formally invite you to our VOT’s Job Fair that will be held on April 15th from 2-6pm at Highline College.
Voices of Tomorrow’s Job fair is for all ambitious people who want to advance in their careers, are looking for new job opportunities in Early learning, and many more!
Don’t miss this chance to hear some advice that could change your professional life and take your career to the next level!
Details below:
Career Fair hosted by Voices of Tomorrow
Saturday, April 15th, 2023
2pm – 6pm
Location: Highline Community College
[Building 8 on the bottom floor in room Mt. Constance and Mt. Olympus]
(2400 S. 240th street, Des Moines WA 98198)
For more information, contact:
Nimco Abdirahman
HR Manager
Direct: 206-905-6638 Office: 206-466-1229
Email: [email protected]
Adult Education - A Village To Raise A Child And Their Guardians
It takes a village to raise a child, is an ancient proverb.
At Voices of Tomorrow, we also realize it takes a village to empower parents.
Anyone who’s raised children will certainly agree that there is no “manual” or “handbook” for raising children, as every child is different.
And all circumstances in which a child is born, vary from family to family; making parenting an activity where skills are needed, but where do parents go to get prepared?.
Voices of Tomorrow works to empower and prepare King County families to elevate their voices and to forge new ways to engage in what they want and need to support children in their families.
VoT has built a program to help the most vulnerable families in the Greater Seattle region - East African migrants and refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, or Kenya.
Metro Seattle is home to more than 40,000 people who were originally born in a country in East Africa but have now made Washington State their new home.
Thus VoT has advisors fluent in Somali, Amharic, or Oromo - common languages spoken in East African homes and communities.
As VOT strives to give children roots of community connection and shared language — we firmly believe that providing supports to families and caregivers is critical to turning this idea into action.
VOT views its early learning services as an anchor to the community and while our early learning programs provide valuable support to children, we know that there must be a seamless connection between school and home.
To learn more about our Adult Education services, that include financial literacy training, basic needs support, and other tools to help your family raise strong and happy children, visit our services page here or contact [email protected].
Health Services - Focus on Health, Body & Mind Project
February: Identifying Trauma Reactions To Create A Safe Environment For Children
We often separate mental health from physical health. One might say, “I’m going to the gym to get in shape” or they may also say “I’m going to a therapist to get my head right”. Our brains are part of our bodies, so we’d be wise to realize mental health is physical, and physical health is mental health. The two are linked, and cannot be separated.
A Mind, Body & Culture Home Visiting Program is available for children from birth to 30 months of age. It can be provided on its own or as a complement to other early childcare programs. The program allows parents to choose either virtual or home-based weekly visits to enhance family relationships, basic communication skills, and preparation for school.
Link with Voices of Tomorrow to learn about opportunities for home-based early childcare, preschool programs, parent training, employment, and professional development.
Wellness Education is offered to families, staff, community members, and allied professionals.
Founded in 2012 by two East African professionals who came together to achieve one goal: “Helping today’s children for a better tomorrow.” VoT takes pride in delivering a wide array of comprehensive services for immigrant and refugee children, families, and in-home early childhood providers in King County.
Unfortunately, our community experiences racism and other oppression due to immigrant status that results in health, education, and financial inequity, and has a negative affect on our mental, emotional, and physical health. But our faith, community, and heritage give us strength to overcome any challenges.
For this month, we are providing resources to identify trauma reactions in children and creating an environment of safety to benefit their mental, emotional, and physical health. To ensure our program meets the needs of the community we serve, VOT relies heavily on support and input from both partners and community members.
VOT has a licensed independent clinical social worker on staff ready to offer behavioral health experience and knowledge to the early childhood/learning programs.
In-depth staff training is being provided to teach information on compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion resilience. Specialized information is being shared about how trauma appears in early childhood and ways staff can support families to address the problems and recover from critical events common to immigrants and refugees from East African countries who settle in the United States.
Early Learning Dual Language
There’s an old saying that “old fools were once young fools”. If this is true, then the converse must also be true: those who seek wisdom in their youth, will surely grow to be wise elders. Voices of Tomorrow’s Early Learning Dual Language Preschool Program is designed to prepare today’s children to be the leaders and voices of tomorrow. Research shows that children can become multilingual at a young age. The Early Learning Dual Language Preschool Program program will expose your child to intentional instruction in the Somali language both in receptive and expressive language
Our teachers are bilingual and hold degrees in Early Childhood Education. They are dedicated to the growth and development of each child that comes through the doors here at Voices of Tomorrow. By teaching our children, as early as possible, the value of their culture and heritage, we strengthen our communities across generations.
We don’t just stop at the children, we have resources for the whole family to ensure each member has their unique needs addressed in a safe and suitable environment. VOT keeps families lifted through culturally and linguistically responsive wraparound Family Support Services and case management.
Voices of Tomorrow is dedicated to improving the school readiness of East African children in King County, while preserving home languages and building on to their cultural heritage.
East African culture has strong communal and oral traditions. For us the first step is always gathering together to talk and to set goals. Once we figure out what works for you, we develop a plan with some clear action steps for success. Learn more about how you can benefit from our Early Learning Program here.