Our Story

During the pandemic, Wonder Village co-founders Carmen and Justina started working closely with parents and families who were struggling to care for their children while under tremendous stress. With their backgrounds in education and respectful parenting, they ran classes and workshops for families who wanted to know how to raise children who were secure, joyful and resilient.

Through their work with parents, they realised that many Malaysian families were at a loss when it came to childcare. Most nurseries and preschools were overly focused on developing academic skills and managing behaviours, while in-home caregivers such as helpers or grandparents were not equipped with a solid understanding of child development. This, combined with the steady advent of technology and mobile devices, was leading to a widespread loss of responsive care, free play and time in nature that were so essential to children’s development in the earliest years.

Carmen and Justina set out to develop a model for small-group, home-based childcare that focused on responsive care and child-led learning. They started their pilot childcare program in Bangsar with only 3 children in 2022. The childcare program continues to grow alongside ongoing workshops and courses for parents and caregivers, including in underserved communities such as refugee groups and B40 families.

Our mission is to create greater access to high-quality early years care and education so that all children can grow up knowing they are loved and valued.

Our Team

Wonder Village is made up of kind, passionate and authentic people. Get to know our team.

Carmen Chan

(Co-founder | Wonder Village Principal)

Carmen has over 12 years of experience working with both neurodivergent and neurotypical children across various age groups. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Newcastle and is trained under Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE). Carmen is dedicated to recognizing each child as a unique individual deserving of respect, believing this approach will nurture a generation who understand their worth. Beyond her passion for child development, she is also interested in learning about different cultures and artistic design.

Justina Chen

(Co-founder)

Justina is a mother and previously worked as a Reggio-inspired preschool teacher. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Early Years Education at University College London (UCL) under the British Chevening scholarship. Trained in Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) and Positive Discipline, she brings a compassionate approach to early childhood education. She is a certified HRDF trainer and has conducted numerous parenting and caregiver workshops. As a public policy consultant, Justina has contributed to national research projects for organizations like the UNDP, the World Bank, and Future Cities UK. She believes every child deserves to grow up knowing they are worthy, just as they are. She enjoys trail running, cooking and reading in her spare time.

Noor Dayana Merican

(Teacher)

Dayana is a respectful parenting advocate and has a deep love for children, which blossomed further after becoming a mother three years ago. With over 15 years of experience caring for babies and children within her family and social circle, she brings a wealth of nurturing skills. Dayana holds a first-class degree in Accountancy from UITM. She loves kissing babies (with their parent’s consent of course) and has a whimsical imagination that she delights in sharing with children

Amirah Nafissa Bahari

(Relief Teacher)

Amirah holds a double diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education from the University of Helsinki, Finland. She is currently completing her Degree in Early Years Education on the University of Greenwich program. She is passionate about making education accessible to all and is dedicated to nurturing a generation defined by compassion and inclusivity. With experience in various play-based preschools, Amirah is well-versed in both Montessori and Finnish curriculums. She also has experience working with neurodivergent children on the autism spectrum and with Downs syndrome. In her free time, Amirah enjoys watching F1 racing and playing with her cats.