Finding Home at the YMCA: Chioma Nwabineli’s Story
For Chioma Nwabineli, the YMCA is more than a workplace, it is part of her family’s story. After moving to Saint John from Nigeria in 2023, Chioma found support, connection, and community through the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick. Today, she works as a childcare provider and educator, helping children feel safe, supported, and cared for every day.
Before coming to Canada, Chioma worked as a lecturer in Nigeria, teaching at universities and polytechnic colleges. But after experiencing a traumatic event that made her fear for her family’s safety, she knew she needed a fresh start.
“I wanted a place where my children and I could feel safe and have peace of mind,” she shared.
In September 2023, Chioma moved to Saint John to continue her education at the University of New Brunswick, where she completed her MBA with a specialization in Professional Sales. Starting over in a new country was not easy, but she embraced the opportunity to build a new life while exploring a different career path, one focused on caring for children.
“I always loved being around kids,” she said. “I wanted to learn more about childcare and become part of children’s growth and development.”
Chioma’s connection to the YMCA began long before she ever arrived in Canada. After the Nigerian Civil War, her father left Nigeria to study pharmacy in Manila in 1974. Nervous and alone, he boarded a flight without knowing anyone in the country or where he would stay. Before his trip, a stranger handed him a piece of paper with one address written on it: YMCA Manila.
When he arrived, the YMCA welcomed him with food, temporary housing, and support while he adjusted to his new environment. That experience stayed with him for decades. So, when Chioma prepared to move to Canada, 49 years later, her father gave her one important piece of advice: “Look for the YMCA, you will be fine.”
Today, Chioma supports multiple childcare programs throughout the day, balancing early mornings, different program locations, and family life with her husband and two children. Although adjusting to the schedule was difficult at first, she says the children she works with keep her motivated.
“There’s something special about children,” she shared. “They bring joy, honesty, and peace.”
One child in particular has made a big impact on her experience at the Y, a boy named Jackson. Chioma says she looks forward to seeing him every afternoon when the school bus arrives.
“We have such a strong connection,” she said. “Seeing him every day makes me excited to come to work.”
Moments like these remind her why she loves working in childcare and why the YMCA feels like the right place for her.
As a newcomer without family nearby, Chioma spent much of her early time in Saint John at the YMCA with her children. From swimming and fitness programs to simply having a welcoming place to go, the Y became an important part of her family’s routine.
“The YMCA gave us a place where we felt connected,” she said.
Her children quickly made friends through swimming programs, and Chioma found comfort in being surrounded by a supportive community. Today, she describes the YMCA in one simple way:
“The Y is home for me.”
For Chioma, the Y represents belonging, support, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, the same values that helped her father decades ago and continue to shape her family’s story today.
About the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick
The YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick is a charity dedicated to building healthy, connected communities where everyone belongs. Through health and wellness, newcomer support, child and youth development, and community programs, we remove barriers, stand against racism and exclusion, and ensure people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Help Us Tell More Stories
If you’re reading this and someone from our YMCA community comes to mind whose story deserves to be told, we’d love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and share their story so we can continue highlighting the voices, moments, and impact that make our YMCA so special.