For the third year in a row, a Filipina has won the ‘Best Nanny in the UAE’ award – and she gets to go home with Php1 million (Dh69,100).
Thirty nine-year-old Rosie Villa won the award, having bested 42 other nannies who were shortlisted by rise, a financial technology platform for migrants. It is the platform’s third year to give awards to the best nannies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with each year won by a Filipina.
To qualify for the award, the nanny must be nominated by family and friends – most especially their employers. Then, rise will create a list of all the participants, ranking them and creating a shortlist of candidates.
The people who nominated the nanny must answer extensive questions,detailing her work and qualities that would make her win the award. Then, they must share the official post on Facebook for their friends to like, with every vote getting counted.
Of course, the Facebook likes are not the only things that matter in picking the winner. A panel of judges comprised of experts Michelle LaRowe, Stella Reid, Sarah Rasmi, and Caroline Kanaan assess the nanny’s capabilities and critical childcare skills. The contestants will be judged according to the following areas:
- Safety
- Health and nutrition
- Child-learning and development
- Building a nurturing environment
- Role modeling
- Impact to the family
“Nannies play a key role in our society. They represent one in four women and one in two workingwomen in the UAE. They don’t have access to bank accounts and less than 1 percent of them have a retirement plan in place,” said awards founder Padmini Gupta.
“We started the awards to recognize them and created the prize of a retirement fund so that more families play a proactive role in empowering their nannies’ future. We are looking forward to next year and continuing to grow awareness about the contribution of these amazing women to our society.”
Villa won this year. The 39-year-old nanny had been working in the UAE for 17 years, almost right after her ex-husband left her with their baby daughter.
She will be completing 6 years this April 2019 with employers Agustina Rastelli and Andrew Wojecki who supported her throughout the competition.
The judges picked her as the winner after seeing the way she cares for the family (her employers) and also at how she was able to also care for her family back in the Philippines. Her 17-year-old daughter will be starting BS Accountancy.
She also supports the needs of her bedridden parents who are being cared for by her sisters.
“This money is a big support just at the time I needed it the most. Firstly, my daughter is about to start her college and this will secure her college fee,” the OFW said.
She also shared that her employers helped her set up a small grocery store in the Philippines.
Despite winning the award and receiving Php1 million, Villa said she plans to continue working till her health allows. She also plans on finally building her dream home so she can later spend more time with her daughter.
Source / Photo credit: Khaleej Times
