Tag Archives: au pair in america

International Women's Day- Friday, March 8th

Friday (March 8th) is International Women’s Day! This day helps to jumpstart the month of March, which has now been named National Women’s History Month in the United States . International Women’s Day is celebrated in 176 countries and allows women worldwide to connect, celebrate and honor womens past, present, and future.

On this day women will “Celebrate, Commit, and Connect.” They’ll celebrate like never before ~ connect as only women do ~ and commit to improve in 3 areas of their lives:
1. Personal ~ improve their personal health and well being, and their businesses as employees, business owners, entrepreneurs.
2. Family ~ help their families be healthier and prepare for the future right now.
3. Country ~ let their voices be heard: to speak up, to make positive changes in their communities/countries.

 Au Pair in America is an organization fully commited to enriching the lives and minds of young women and this day is highly regarded within the organization.

Young women from all over the globe, ages 18 -26, come to America to live with an American family and learn about American culture. The Au Pair in America cultural exchange program provides a platform to really the change lives of the young women that participate. Fanny Carvajal-Delgado, one of our former au pairs from Costa Rica, has said “Working as an aupair with Au Pair in America is a life changing experience. It has changed my life, the way I value my family and friends, the way I see the world and the way I think about myself, in a positive way.  I will never be the same person ! When I finished the program I was more mature, Independent and responsible.”

In recognition of International Women’s Day, below are some ways you can celebrate this day as well as National Women’s History month in your lcoal community:

  • Register to vote
  • Attend an event promoting women’s health, equality or safety
  • Thank a woman who has been a positive influence in your life
  • Support a program that provides business training for women in developing countries
  • Make a doantion that provides education for girls

To find for an International Women’s Day event in your area, go to www.internationalwomensday.com

Fairfield HamletHub

Au Pair in America: Child Care with a Cultural Flair

Details Category: Local Business Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 11:19 Written by Mike Lauterborn .

There are many childcare services but few that go beyond to offer an enriching cultural element and experience. Stamford-based Au Pair in America has been matching foreign-born au pairs to American families for live-in childcare for the past 25 years.

Lisa Burger, the group’s representative for the Fairfield/Southport area, spoke with Fairfield HamletHub recently to share her background, and introduce the Hub to a participating au pair and family.

From age 5 to 12, Burger lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she attended an international school. That was her first exposure to many different cultures. She liked the orientation and, from 1992 to 1996 worked in Greenwich, CT as the regional director for Academic Year in America, a high school exchange program under the umbrella of the American Institute of Foreign Study. She placed students with families and worked with them.

After a five-year pause to raise a family, she returned to the AIFS, and in October 2001, began working in her current Community Counselor role, again playing matchmaker, but with au pairs and families for childcare. “It was right after 9/11 and, at that uncertain time, I wasn’t sure how popular this type of program was going to continue to be given world affairs,” she said.

Though U.S. policies with regard to foreigners entering America did affect program security measures, families were just as eager to get involved.

Families fill out an application, Burger interviews them and then the family seeks candidates online. Au pairs are 18-26 and English speaking, with driving skills, childcare experience and references. Families and candidates get to know each other through Skype and then the family notes its au pair choice. The au pair applies for a Visa, a 4-10 week process during which time the candidate and family get better acquainted.

“During the busy season, we will have up to 200 girls at a time come to the U.S.,” said Burger. “They go through a four-day orientation and then go to their various destinations all around the U.S. I enjoy meeting the au pairs from all over the world, seeing how they change and learning about their impressions of America. The families like the experience because of the added help but also the cultural exposure. The au pairs like to share the culture they pick up with their own families.”

Twenty-one-year-old Andrea Witschas, from Berlin, Germany, is a participating au pair. She traveled a lot through Europe as a young girl and enjoyed all the different people and their cultures. “When I was 14, I heard a fellow school student talking about being away through exchange programs and wanted to do that,” she said.

She joined a program called EF and, in August 2007, was placed with a family in Scotland. She stayed for a year and went to school locally. “It was a great experience and I learned a lot about the culture. I actually felt a bit Scottish,” she said.

She was inspired to do something similar again and, during a visit to Florida, went to a job center orientation and learned about Au Pair in America. Ultimately, she was placed with a family in Fairfield, in August 2011. “It’s been great so far,” she said. “I’ve gotten used to their schedule, and I’m taking classes at Fairfield University.”

The Crepeau family of Fairfield has been involved in the program since December 2009. “Our first au pair experience was with a Chinese girl, Xi, who went by the name Gigi,” she said. “She came to us when we had just adopted a two-year-old boy from China. We wanted to have that cultural connection. Xi was here for 15 months and was a critical part of his transition. She was really key.”

If you are interested in the Au Pair in America program, contact Lisa Burger at 203-366-1150 or lgburger@optonline.net