Owner and Program Director, Idalmy Diego, was born and raised in San Juan, Honduras where she learned that happiness is about the small, simple things. She was raised by her Great-Grandma Chuta who she says, “always treated her like a princess,” despite facing poverty, going without toys and never celebrating her own birthdays. She’s explained that those things never mattered because of the nurturing environment that Grandma Chuta had provided her. Chuta would sing her lullabies & play in her hair until she fell asleep under the stars. Those are the experiences that she attributes her childhood happiness to. In Honduras, Idalmy learned the importance of humble living & gentle care-taking during early childhood development.

 

After coming to the United States at 11 years old, facing abuse, the foster care system, and having a child of her own, Idalmy began to use her experiences to enrich the lives of other children. She worked at a daycare for almost a decade, started college to obtain a degree in early childhood education and then finally opened her own daycare, so that she could personally care for her firstborn nephew.

 

Since it’s inception in 2013, AJ’s First Steps has fed, clothed, taught, loved and nurtured scores of children. Senior Assistant, Ms.Jackie, has been coming up with challenging and exciting curriculum for our students, while Ms. Idalmy oversees the coordination and administration of all other aspects including organizing, staffing, and controlling program activities. In the near future, she aspires to start her own non-profit organization to give back to the children of Honduras and continue to provide children everywhere with education, safety, security and fun.