The businesses she had established are now complementing Australia’s educational and training system for future teachers, while creating jobs for immigrants like her who find difficulty in landing a decent work.
But before Filipino immigrant in Australia Sarifa Alonto-Younes, the first prize winner of the the 2018 AusMumpreneur Awards in the Multicultural Business Excellence category, could reap the reward of her hard work, she bravely faced numerous challenges of living in a foreign land.
And so she worked doubly hard to realize her full potential in the pursuit of her dreams.
“It’s not easy to get a job when I came to Australia, that’s why I decided to create jobs for those people who couldn’t get jobs like me,” she said in an e-mail interview with the BusinessMirror.
A psychologist and early-childhood learning expert with a 15-year experience in the field, Younes decided to establish Arndell Early Childhood Learning Centre, a pre-school, child care and kindergarten school in Melbourne in 2004. It is licensed to accommodate four-week-old babies to five-year-old children up to kindergarten.
From 2007 to 2017, Younes established three travel agencies—the first was Anaysah Travel Agency in Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne, followed by Harvey World Travel Agency in Werribee, Victoria. The last one was Hello World Travel Agency in Point Cook, Victoria.
Five years ago Younes put up the International Academy of Marawi, which offers K to 12 programs.
In 2015 she established the Registered Training Organization, Training College of Australia, which offers certificates and diploma courses in early childhood, business management and first-aid courses in Melbourne. As a Filipino immigrant in the land Down Under, Younes is proud of her accolade and sees this as an opportunity to encourage other Filipino immigrants to work hard to achieve their goals in life.
Younes recalled living overseas is not a bed of roses, as she and her family had to hurdle obstacles that came along the way. But she remained positive despite the odds.
Although she experienced a challenging life in Australia, Younes didn’t give up. Instead, she strived to work harder. An optimist, she remained unfazed in the face of these challenges. “I am very sincere and committed in whatever I do in life. I take every step one at a time and stay focus to complete whatever project I start to ensure it is completed,” she said.
“However, those obstacles are the pathways and vehicles to our strength and triumph, provided we face up with those challenges and don’t just give in. I [deal with] my obstacles [and] why [then] I would say I’m the living example of triumph and success,” she said.
Younes stressed she will not rest on her laurels, as she plans to continue to push her advocacy while she has the energy and capability to serve the community and contribute both to Australian and Filipino communities.
“I want to encourage and inspire those people who are victims of circumstances to realize their potential as they could do so much if they keep trying their best,” she pointed out.
The awards rites were held at the White Night Receptions in Melbourne, where over 450 talented moms in business from all over the country gathered to support and encourage other Australian “mumpreneurs.” Coming from a migrant background and entering into a male-dominated industry, her success is further credited to her hardworking mentality and commitment to succeed.
Now on its ninth year, the AusMumpreneur Awards, according to the organizers, have seen the increase in the number of mothers looking for opportunities to join the ranks of small business entrepreneurs to find more flexibility, financial freedom and family time.