Zainab Khudhair came to Nebraska about a year ago, moving here from her homeland of Iraq to be with her husband and his family in
Lincoln.
The 21-year-old had been studying mathematics and hoped to become a teacher, but she hit something of a snag when she arrived in the Midwest.
This spring, however, she starts work at a local childcare program in her first ever independent job at Hamilton Heights Child Development Center, thanks to a valuable partnership between Lincoln Littles and Lincoln Literacy.
“I love children and now I get to spend my days with the cutest little kids,” Khudhair says. “I play with them, take them outdoors, change diapers. I love everything about the job. So many people have helped me, I don’t even know how to start thanking them all.”
She smiles as she holds a toddler in the playroom at Hamilton Heights, describing a journey that has been surprisingly smooth – with Lincoln Littles and Lincoln Literacy paving the way.
After arriving in Lincoln and knowing few people beyond her husband’s family, Khudhair eventually landed at Lincoln Literacy to improve her language skills. While there she heard a presentation from Lincoln Littles about a training program for early childcare providers and suddenly her career journey changed.
With support from both Lincoln Literacy and the American Job Center, she enrolled in the Lincoln Littles training class and was named one of the Lincoln Littles interns.
“It’s been amazing to watch this young woman grow, see her independence and confidence emerge,” says Julie Jones-Branch, Workforce Program manager with Lincoln Littles.
“She is one of our first interns to have a full-time job placement and I get emotional talking about it,” she continues. “I have such an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment for Zainab. This job is life-changing for her. She’s never worked outside the home, and now she is so happy as she shows me around her workplace.”
Jones-Branch explains that part of the mission at Lincoln Littles is to educate and help people recognize early childcare as a viable career. And partnerships like the one with Lincoln Literacy help make that happen.
“I see our work as a tapestry with many threads weaving together,” she says. “Developing partnerships across our community, relying on each other’s expertise, builds bridges and eventually brings more people into the field. The possibilities are endless because every student is unique.”
As Khudhair worked through the training program, she realized a completely new passion and potential career, Jones-Branch says. “I like to believe that’s what we do. We help people discover new passions and new opportunities.”
She sees Lincoln Littles and Lincoln Literacy intersecting in that goal. “It just makes so much sense. Students often come to Lincoln Literacy for language skills, and we can offer them a way to use those skills. We now have seen many referrals coming from Lincoln Literacy. I’m feeling more and more connected.”
Shari McCright, who teaches classes for Lincoln Literacy, agrees. “What’s better than helping someone find their passion, support them in their goals? It’s the best feeling to watch someone who has come from so far away and find their dream.”
She explains that many students in class were teachers in their home country and are passionate about continuing to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. “There are also students who find a new career or their first career, and feel the community of people who can support them.”
McCright says that Lincoln Littles started to come to Lincoln Literacy language programs and specifically talk about possible careers as both para-educators as well as early childcare educators.
“I started to get to know Julie and learn about the early childhood workforce program – and working together just made sense.”
The next step for Khudhair, of course, was finding a job. Enter the Hamilton Heights Child Development Center.
“We were connected to Lincoln Littles and their work, so it made sense to take a look and interview some of their interns,” says Natasha Olsen, director of Hamilton Heights at the time. “We were immediately impressed with Zainab, how caring and warm she was. I can teach people actual skills, I can teach them how to change a diaper, how to work on their English. But I cannot teach someone how to be warm and caring.”
Olsen remembers how badly Khudhair wanted the job. “When we gave her a tour, she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay and take care of the children.”
Hamilton Heights has six centers in southeast Nebraska, privately owned by an Omaha mom who understands what it’s like to be a working parent, Olsen says. “We understand how ensuring quality childcare eases a working parent’s mind, and we’d urge other childcare centers to consider hiring employees like Zainab. Childcare centers are in a staffing crisis right now and we need help in finding caring teachers. In Zainab, we found an amazing young woman who genuinely loves to be here working with kids.”
Starting this spring, Khudhair is working five days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. She says she loves every moment at the center.
“I love these children. I am making my own friends. I am making my own money and my husband is so proud of me.”
She wants to get a learner’s permit and learn how to drive, continue improving her English, and perhaps go back to college.
“Life is exciting right now,” she says. “I am happy.”