Standing in front of the class, or sitting on the floor with her children, represents nothing less than one of Neiffi Kock-Sierra's (53) most cherished dreams. In 2014, she took an irrevocable step to establish her preschool, which she named Pasa Dushi Pasa Pret Peuterschool.
Now, 9 years later, she is more than happy because her intuition to take this step was correct. She did not let her dream die. Now, she simply wants to inspire others not to let their dreams die and believe that there is always a way to make it a reality.
"Since I was a child, I used to play school where I was the teacher. I always loved children," Neiffi shares. This latent passion for teaching has been with her since then. "I always said that one day I would have my own daycare." She grew up, finished her education in Aruba, but her professional path took her far from her dream, working as the main cashier for a local company. The reality is that she was not completely happy because the deep love for young children never left her mind or her heart.
After working as a cashier for 15 years, Neiffi decided to finally take the step of change. She left her job and worked at a daycare to make sure that this was what she really wanted to do. She saw the good and the bad, but all this firmly shaped her decision. She enrolled herself in courses to academically prepare herself, and with the help of her husband, they transformed their garage into a school environment. Without seeking financial help from banks, they invested all their love and hope in creating this small preschool, turning it into a cozy and pleasant space.
Thus, "Pasa Dushi Pasa Pret" opened its doors on the first of August 2014, with only six children and Neiffi and a colleague who decided to join her, as the teachers. It didn't take long before the number of children grew. Word of mouth and just four months later, the school grew to 25 children. "I created a Facebook page and posted a bit about what we were doing." Thus Neiffi continued to improve herself, participating in various further courses, including those from Fundacion pa Nos Muchanan and FEPA, and even obtained a diploma in Leider Sportieve Recreatie (LSR) to entertain her children. To this day, she continues taking courses because her goal is always to offer the best service and experience to her children.
Her favorite moment? She says there are several, but: "nothing equals when I sit on the floor with my children and enjoy their innocent joy all over me. I've learned that many children need and want love and affection. They want you to do activities with them, and thus they connect with us." Neiffi says her work has many gratifying moments, for instance, when she's out and meets her former students - now teenagers - affectionately calling her "teacher Neiffi". "I still have children, now grown up, who visit me. I believe this is thanks to the love and affection I gave them."
Pasa Dushi Pasa Pret cares for children up to 6 years old. "I keep the number balanced where all teachers work together. I now have 55 children with a total of 5 teachers who give them care and affection. I start with babies from 6 months old. Over time, Neiffi has learned a lot and is there for parents to feel at ease with their most precious creations well taken care of. "Certainly, there are parents who have reservations about whether or when to take their little one to a preschool, but many parents come to me after making the right decision when they see how happy their children are, with positive results in behavior.
"Do not let your dreams die. Believe in yourself and take it step by step to make your dream come true. Keep putting love into everything you do." Neiffi Kock-Sierra not only realized her dream but also inspired an entire community with her dedication and love for teaching.
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