In 1996, Samsam arrived in the United States from Somalia, bringing with her a deep sense of family, resilience, and care that would eventually shape her life’s work. Like many immigrant mothers, she leaned on her family as she worked to build a new future. Growing up in a large, close‑knit household, she spent years helping her sisters care for their children while raising her own son. Together, they created a system of support: while one cared for the children, another went to school or work.
At the time, she didn’t think of herself as a child care provider; just a mother and sister doing what needed to be done. “I started this work because I understand how difficult it is for working parents to find care,” Samsam says.
Now based in San Diego, she has grown from caring for her nieces and nephews while juggling work, school, and family responsibilities into a licensed family child care provider. For more than 20 years, she has created a supportive space for children, building a program grounded in the same principles that guided her from the start: safety, respect, and love. For many in her community, Samsam’s home-based center has become a place where families can rely on affordable, flexible care while working toward their goals.
Because children arrive at all hours, Samsam has designed her 24-hour program around a flexible daily routine. Mornings begin with free play and breakfast, followed by cleanup, circle time, and structured learning activities. Children spend time outdoors in her backyard before coming inside for lunch, naps, and quieter activities like reading, crafts, or homework. She also provides three nutritious meals each day and sometimes includes the children in cooking, helping them better understand what they eat.
It’s truly a labor of love and a reflection of how much child care providers give. Many former children return as adults to share all their milestones, a testament to the lasting impact she’s had. “When I see them grow into beautiful adults who still remember what they learned here, that is my reward,” she says.
Her approach is rooted in her culture and upbringing, where mothers were central to raising children. She carries that tradition forward, making her home a place of learning, belonging, and connection for every child who walks through her door.
But even as she continues to provide stability and care for families, Samsam has faced moments that have shaken her. In January, while transporting children to her center, she noticed two men sitting in a parked car with a camera outside her home. Sensing something was wrong, she circled the block several times before finally going inside. “It was scary because I didn’t know what they wanted or what their intention was,” she said. The incident came amid a wave of harassment targeting Somali child care providers following a viral video that falsely alleged fraud in Somali-run centers in Minneapolis. Strangers began showing up outside providers’ homes in San Diego, looking through windows, filming, and making accusations. Because providers’ addresses are publicly available, many—including Samsam—found themselves exposed. “They’re going on Google, finding our information, and coming to our homes,” she explained. “They film us, they call names… this has happened to me more than once.” For Samsam, the experience has been both frightening and painful. Still, she continues, grounded in the children she cares for every day and the trust families place in her.
During this difficult time—and even before—she has been proud to be part of a union that protects providers like her and offers a strong sense of support, helping her grow as a provider, leader, and community member. “Quitting was not an option,” she says. “I had two choices: give up or fight.” She chose to fight.
Joining UDW and helping secure two contracts is among her proudest achievements. Despite slow progress, she continues to speak out, knowing this work is essential. “Being part of UDW has brought us all together,” she says. “We may not be where we want yet, but we are united, and not alone.”
Looking ahead, Samsam dreams of a child care system that finally pays the true cost of care. Not just for fair pay, food and toys, but for everything it takes to keep children safe, learning, and loved. She wants policymakers to walk a day in her shoes, to see the early mornings, late nights, and miles driven between schools and homes.
“I continue to do this work because I believe every child deserves a safe start and every parent deserves to feel supported, not punished,” she says. “I tell the parents all the time, your child is safe here. Take your time. We are family.”
For Samsam, family child care has always been about showing up for children, for parents, and now, for providers everywhere.
Discover more inspiring member stories at udw.org/our-stories.