We are honoring the 2019 Au Pair of the Year winners!
We received a record number of nominations – resulting in two-way ties for second and third place! This year, we are thrilled to acknowledge 5 inspiring young women and share their stories.
When given the opportunity to join a family with four young children in Massachusetts, Ana Carolina Teixeira Lopes Rosa, an au pair from Brazil, did not hesitate. In October of 2018, she arrived at her new home with the Enos family in Andover.
Fifteen months later, Ana is in her second year as an au pair with the family – who nominated her for the 2019 Au Pair in America Au Pair of the Year Award! Ana finished in third place for the award.
The award, given annually by Au Pair in America, provides the opportunity for host families to show their appreciation for their au pair’s achievements and the ways in which she has touched their family, something Ana accomplished very early.
“Ana transitioned quickly into our family from the beginning,” states Katie Enos, Ana’s host mother. “She was eager to get to know all four of our kids and to earn our trust. Ana’s experience being from a big family herself, her competence and trustworthiness, and the seriousness with which she approached these challenges made her an ideal fit for our family and we feel so lucky to have matched with her.”
Before starting her time as an au pair, Ana was the first in her family to attend college. She received a full scholarship to IMBEC, one of the top private business schools in Brazil. Her thirst for learning has continued while in America, completing a course at the Harvard Extension School.
Ana has embraced the full au pair experience, taking every opportunity to learn about American culture and way of life. “She also has generously shared her own culture with us and we have enjoyed eating a variety of Brazilian foods, participating in Brazilian traditions and learning the Portuguese language,” adds Mrs. Enos.
“Upon her arrival, Ana desired to find a church she could attend [in the Andover area]. Joining a church, which she attends weekly, helped her identify a community, participate in volunteer opportunities in our area, and even start her own community group. Every week she extends a welcoming invitation to au pairs throughout her cluster (and beyond) to join her to talk about their experiences and discuss issues of concern. It has become a dedicated support group and all of the participants have formed deep bonds of friendship and fellowship.”
The Au Pair of the Year Award recognizes first, second and third place winners, chosen by a committee appointed by Au Pair in America. All nominees are nominated by their host family, who are asked to write an essay that describes the characteristics that make their au pair exceptional, noting the positive impact she has had on their family and explaining how she has integrated into their local community and learned about America. All nominees receive a certificate, with the top three winners also receiving round-trip airline tickets. Winners are announced in February.
“While the au pair program has always fulfilled the practical goal of providing us with much needed child care, I feel the cultural exchange is equally important and a much-valued benefit,” Mrs. Enos states in her nomination essay. “Ana has exceeded our expectations and enriches our life. I believe she is wholly deserving of this award and I am confident our experience epitomizes the goals set forth by this program.”
Are you interested in creating meaningful bonds through cultural exchange like Ana and her host family? Learn more about hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America!
