Au Pair in America hosted our annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” on April 23rd, affectionately known around the office as Bring Your Child to Work Day (BYCTWD). Started in 1993 as a way to encourage girls to explore different careers, it is now a nationally recognized program to teach boys and girls of all ages about work and the diverse fields and opportunities available to them.
To start the day, the kids were introduced to Bill Gertz, President and CEO of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), the parent company of Au Pair in America. He welcomed them to our offices, shared a few jokes, and told them to give their parents a nice pat on the back for the hard work they do every day.
The day was a success and focused on empowerment, cultural diversity and our mission of Bringing the World Together. There were a total of 40 children, ages 4-14, divided into three groups. Workshops were prepared by different staff members related to this year’s themes.
Opening up the donated school supplies
In keeping with these themes, the day included a charitable component to teach the children about how they can get involved and make a difference. This year, the kids collected and donated school supplies to a school in Kampala, Uganda. In past years, AIFS has partnered with charities such as Crayons for Cancer, the Boys and Girls Club and local shelters. Teaching the kids about corporate responsibility and giving back to the global community is something we feel strongly about, especially on this special day.
Our special guests this year were Brazilian Capoeira Dancers! The children learned dance moves – and a little bit of culture and language – as the artists explained and demonstrated this unique blend of dance and martial arts. A Brazilian au pair hosted by one of our AIFS families also attended and enjoyed seeing the wonderful performance.
At AIFS we value this yearly event and its mission to help kids “dream without limitations, and to think imaginatively about their family, work and community lives.”
