Rafaela Fonseca - September 2024 Shero

Congratulations Rafaela Fonseca, Cape Cod, MA

My name is Rafaela Fonseca, and I have been living in Cape Cod for nearly 19 years, though I am originally from Brazil. My journey in child care began in 2012 when I left my 40-hour job to pursue a new opportunity I hadn’t anticipated loving so much. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of caring for many children, each experience shaping my passion and dedication to this field.

In 2020, I faced one of my greatest professional challenges—providing emergency care during the pandemic. It was a tough period, but it also reinforced my commitment to helping families in need. That same year, I began studying for my bilingual CDA credential, which rekindled my love for learning and inspired me to return to college.

In 2022, I discovered another deep passion: working with special needs children. I now happily serve in the Inclusion Ministry at my church, where I support families within my community.

In 2021, I attended a business workshop led by Djena Jaques at The Shared Services, which was a transformative experience. It opened my eyes to managing my Family Child Care business like a true business and taught me how to market it effectively. I highly recommend the workshop to fellow educators—it was invaluable, and I am deeply grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to supporting educators across Massachusetts.

Recently, about two months ago, I achieved a lifelong dream by purchasing a child care center, where I now share the responsibilities of director with my business partner. We’re excited to expand our services throughout the Cape Cod area, reaching and supporting as many families as we can.

For me, providing care is not just a business—it’s a calling that’s deeply rooted in my heart.