International nanny travels the world, aims to professionalize childcare career

For many, traveling the world is a dream, but for Farhah Mohd. Sidek, 27, each journey is a professional responsibility as an international nanny entrusted with the safety and well-being of children abroad.

Farhah's social media videos showcasing her work often capture attention, with many mistaking her international travels with children for mere vacations. However, this is her daily routine as a professional nanny. While the opportunity to see the world is a perk, the career demands immense responsibility, high levels of patience, and adeptness in managing children's emotions and safety across various scenarios.

Her journey into this unique profession began close to home. Growing up as the third of 12 siblings in a large family with two mothers, Farhah was accustomed to helping care for her younger siblings from a young age. She also actively volunteered with children through various NGOs and community programs. These early experiences laid the foundation for her current career, which has taken her to multiple countries.

Farhah's ambition is to shift the perception of nannying from a simple childcare role to a recognized professional career that requires specialized knowledge, skills, and emotional fortitude. Despite having explored various jobs, including roles as a chef's assistant, clinic assistant, sales associate, and running her own business, her passion for childcare never waned.

In 2021, she completed professional nanny training and began offering her services actively in 2022. Farhah emphasizes that her decision was driven by a desire for independence and to build her own career, not by financial hardship. She stated, "I don't come from a poor family, but I prefer to be independent and work to have my own income." Although she has visited six countries, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Dubai, Austria, Singapore, and Indonesia, she never initially envisioned working abroad and had never even owned a passport before becoming an international nanny. She believes that opportunities arise through effort and continuous prayer, having often prayed for the chance to see the world, especially London.