“There Is No Difficult Child. There Is a Child Who Is Struggling”

For Noa Heftzadi, education has never been simply a profession. It is a deeply personal calling rooted in her own childhood.

Now 37 and living in Mevaseret Zion, WIZO Lilach Daycare Center, named in memory of Yoni Netanyahu (WIZO UK), a place that has long been part of her family’s life. Five of her children grew up there, and today her youngest daughter is also cared for at the center.

Noa’s path into education began with a promise she made to herself as a child.

“I was not an easy child,” she recalls. “I was quite complex, and I often felt rejected. I told myself that when I grew up, I would work with children, especially those who were struggling, so I could give them what I did not receive.”

That belief continues to shape everything she does. For Noa, the true measure of an educator is not how well she works with children who are easy to reach, but how she responds to those who need greater patience, understanding, and support.

“There is no difficult child,” she says. “There is a child who is struggling.”

Noa joined WIZO Lilach in 2016 as a caregiver-educator working with toddlers. In 2019, she took an extended leave after the birth of a daughter with a heart condition who could not attend an educational framework. Even during those three years, Noa never truly disconnected from the center. She visited frequently and remained closely connected to the children and staff.

In 2022, she returned as a caregiver-educator. When she was offered the position of director in 2025, she initially hesitated. She worried about the demands of the role and whether she could balance them with family life. But the parents, staff, professional supervisors, and her former director all encouraged her to take the next step.

Today, Noa leads the center with the same sensitivity and determination that guided her in the classroom. She remains closely involved with children who need additional support and helps staff understand how to approach each child according to their individual needs.

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in trust, honesty, and personal connection.

Noa sees the team as a family. She believes that supporting educators means understanding that they also carry responsibilities and challenges outside the center. When someone needs help, she is willing to step into a classroom herself.

That same accessibility extends to parents. In a close-knit community such as Mevaseret Zion, families often turn to Noa not only with questions about their children, but with personal struggles and uncertainty.

“Parents have come to me in tears because they did not know where to turn,” she says. “I helped where I could, connected them with social services, and made sure they did not feel alone.”

For Noa, a daycare center has a responsibility to see the entire family, not only the child.

“What matters to me is that every parent feels, each morning, that their child is loved,” she says. “That they know we care, that they have someone to turn to, and that we see both the child and the parent.”

Noa speaks with deep admiration of Hani, the center’s previous director, whom she credits with helping her recognize her own potential.

“She gave me confidence, and that means everything,” Noa says. “If we want to help more women in education grow and advance, it starts with a leader who encourages and strengthens them.”

That experience has shaped the kind of director Noa now strives to be: one who sees potential in others, creates opportunities for growth, and gives educators the confidence to take the next step.

For her, the impact of early childhood education is measured across generations. When she meets an older child who still remembers her years later, she knows the relationship mattered.

And what does she hope children will remember about WIZO Lilach when they grow older? Her answer is immediate.

“WIZO Lilach Daycare Center is a family. That is my motto.”