Description

Following your dreams and turning them into reality is something that few people can really lay claim to in this world, but for me the development of Zein Childcare represents just that. I had a lifelong held belief that there had to be a better way to support and develop the lives of internationally mobile children - a better way to ensure that the benefits of being a ‘Third Culture Kid' (TCK) truly outweighed the negatives. My name is Robbie Zein - I am the co-founder of the Zein International Childcare Group - a labour of love that I entered into together with my husband Jan van der Meijden back in 2007. Zein International Childcare is the result of our combined strengths - my background in, and passion for, children and early years education, together with his seemingly endless energy and entrepreneurial vision. I am what is known as an adult TCK. Canadian by passport, I grew up within an internationally mobile family and throughout my childhood lived in numerous countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East. My experience with families and children of all ages from diverse cultures combined with my own international background has given me a unique perspective and insight that allows me to help children and parents to understand, work through and successfully deal with many of the challenges that families can face in a fast-changing, foreign environment. One of the most important aspects of Zein's program is not just the exceptional care and attention we give the children, but also the advice and feedback we provide to our parents. From a career perspective, I studied early childhood education in Canada and spent many years working with children in different settings. I am an experienced lecturer and have provided consulting services on childhood behaviour for the expatriate community. —Robbie Zein