Vicky Elkins’ Cultural Care Au Pair Site - Memphis

Orphanage #63

Posted by: velkins on March 31, 2007

Cultural Care’s Kids First Project 2003-2006: The purchase of a computers, sports equipment, clothing and, the biggest item on thier wish list, a school bus.

Upon opening Russia as an au pair recruitment country in 2001, we recognized a particular need halfway around the world that compelled us to initiate the first of our overseas Kids First partnerships. Orphanage #63, located 10 miles outside Moscow center, is a place that 56 very special children call home. Despite the care they receive from the orphanage director and her staff, the future for the children at the orphanage is likely a tough one Statistically 50% of these young adults fall into a high risk category, predicting a life of drugs, crime, or prostitution.

The Boston and overseas offices of Cultural Care Au Pair spearheaded several fundraising projects in support of Orphanage #63. The sale of our CD of international children’s songs (performed by our very own Cultural Care au pairs), the Kids First International Cookbook and holiday cards (featuring pictures from the orphanage’s most talented artists) was a big success as were our international dessert festival and KnitMania events. Our LCCs, host families and au pairs across the country contributed to Orphanage #63 through garage sales, holiday wrapping services, talent shows, bake sales and more.

On several outreach visits, Cultural Care staff and LCCs traveled to the orphanage to spend time with the children and to bring them sports equipment, arts and crafts supplies,

a computer lab, sneakers, clothing, handmade scarves and valentines. In March 2007, we purchased the biggest item on their wish list—a bus— that will provide an easier and safer commute to and from school and allow them to embark on educational field trips. We’ll continue to support their development by sponsoring a yearly cultural excursion.

The impact we’ve made on our friends at Orphanage #63 has inspired us to expand our Kids First program so we can help even more children around the world.

Casa de Zezinho

Posted by: velkins on March 30, 2007

Cultural Care’s Kids First Project 2007: The sale of children’s handicrafts and assistance with the production of Saltimbanco, a Brazilian children’s musical, at a community theater in São Paulo.

On the outskirts of São Paulo, there is a poor and violent region so dangerous, it is known as the “death triangle.” Thousands of families live here and don’t have the resources to move elsewhere. Children have no access to leisure activities-there are no libraries, no theaters, no museums, no parks to enrich their free time. In fact, on average, three children die in this neighborhood every week by violent means or neglect.

In the middle of this terror is a safe haven called Casa do Zezinho. This daycare and after-school center is a sanctuary for children and teenagers who take part in their educational programs as well as the arts and culture programs they offer. The children are encouraged to explore creative hobbies and engage in cultural activities as well as participate in self-esteem and self-development programs.

Dagmar Garroux, the founder of Casa do Zezinho, and known as Tia Dag, describes it as, “A house where we learn with children, and children learn with us, how to open the doors which are usually closed by poverty.” Casa do Zezinho provides a sheltered place for the children to play and learn. It is a place where children receive attention, affection, nutrition and education. It is a place where they can find hope.

Their programs include the graphic arts: mosaic, paper recycling art, woodworking, ceramics and silk screening-as well as the performing arts: theater, dance, musical instruments, and singing. Instead of dead end roads, the children are shown the way to make positive choices for their own future.

Casa do Zezinho currently enrolls 1,200 children. Yet they have more than 2,000 on the waiting list. Through the sale of the childrens’ handicrafts and the production of local performances, Cultural Care will help them to expand their program and reach out to many more “at risk” children.

Ubuhle Babantwana

Posted by: velkins on March 29, 2007

Cultural Care’s Kids First Project 2007: The purchase of materials for and the building of a new structure for the day care center and expansion of the orphanage.

In South Africa, over five million children are characterized as severely deprived. Many of them are orphaned. Many of them are sick with HIV/AIDS and are malnourished. Still more don’t go to school because of destitution or discrimination.

In a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown sits Ubuhle Babantwana–an orphanage and daycare center that cares for over 100 of the neediest children. They provide food, healthcare, education, and a loving family to orphaned and vulnerable children of all ages.

Mama Pumla, the founder of Ubuhle Babantwana, had a great job, earned a decent living and lived in a middle class neighborhood but felt like she had no true purpose. After seeing the children who wondered the streets each day, she realized that her calling in life was to take care of South Africa’s forgotten children. She quit her job, moved with her husband to a tiny home in Mfuleni and founded the Ubuhle Babantwana Daycare Centre in October 2004.

Initially, Pumla welcomed five children into her program. Only a few months later, that number grew to 30. Now, her center tends to almost 120 children up to five years of age. Pumla has also permanently taken in ten orphaned and neglected children despite having three children of her own. Along with the dedicated help of twelve unpaid teachers and caretakers, Pumla now provides a remarkable safe-haven to these at-risk children. Although she and her husband now live in relative poverty, Mama Pumla has never been happier with her life.

Mama Pumla has a dream to build additional structures that would provide more housing for orphaned children and additional room for the daycare center, allowing her to help even more children in need. Cultural Care Au Pair aims to help fulfill this wish.

St. Mary’s Academy

Posted by: velkins on March 28, 2007

Cultural Care’s Kids First Project 2007: The purchase of books for an elementary school library in New Orleans.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 110 out of 126 New Orleans schools were completely destroyed. The rebuilding of these schools has been a slow process. And, the most critical teaching tools of all— books—are in short supply.

St. Mary’s is one of the schools that suffered devastating losses at the hand of Katrina. The entire campus was flooded under six feet of water and all facilities were decimated. Located in the heart of New Orleans and, originally an all-girl’s high school, St. Mary’s opened its doors just days after the disaster to children of all ages and means.

Operating out of temporary buildings and trailers, they are working to restore the most basic classroom needs. Their library lost over 10,000 books and all furniture and electronic resources. While St. Mary’s been able to replace some of the high school level books through grants, they haven’t yet found the resources to replenish the elementary school library. Most of the children come from low income families and almost one half of them are low level readers. They need literacy to have hope for a brighter future.

To help St. Mary’s purchase books for their youngest students, Cultural Care Au Pair has committed to providing funds and books for an elementary school library through our Kids First program.

What you can do to help

Posted by: velkins on March 27, 2007

If you are interesting in helping Cultural Care Aupair’s charitable campaign that intended to better the lives of children all over the world. You can do it in the following ways:

• Buying a Cookbook http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/icbpage.aspx
• Buying a CD  http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/kidsfirstcd.aspx
• Buying a Kids First Holiday Card http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/HolidayNoteCards.aspx
• Colaborating in Fundrising events organized by your Local Childcare Coordinator
• Or make donation by calling Cultural Care Aupair at 1-800-3336056

April Aupair Meeting - “Presentation of your Country”

Posted by: velkins on March 25, 2007

“Presentation of your Country” is the theme of this aupair meeting.

This meeting will be held at the house of the Foss Family family on Sunday, April 22, at 4 p.m. The aupair the have the best presentation will get a prize. Also we will enjoy some desserts.

March Aupair Meeting - “Bowling Time”

Posted by: velkins on March 20, 2007

Our meeting this month will be Friday, March 23, at 6 p.m. It’s located at 7945 Club Center Cove, Cordova, TN 38018.

Full Year Program

Posted by: velkins on March 20, 2007

Our full year program allows your family to host an au pair for 12 months.

You’ll receive flexible live-in childcare and experience the rewards of cultural exchange through a trusted organization with more than 15 years of experience. Our program fee includes recruitment, screening and pre-departure preparation for your au pair; your au pair’s training at the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School upon arrival in the U.S.; host family and au pair orientations; international airfare; a full year of medical and travel insurance; training materials; and yearlong support from the Cultural Care Au Pair office staff and your local childcare coordinator, including 24 hour emergency on call staff.

Summer Aupair Program

Posted by: velkins on March 19, 2007

Enjoy an extra set of hands during the summer and coordination of all your children’s activities such as sports camps, swimming lessons and play dates.

Cultural Care Summer Au Pair is our most recent program offering designed to meet the demands of busy, working parents. Our summer au pair program delivers the same cultural exchange opportunity and meets the same high-quality standards as our trusted, yearlong program.

How the program works

Summer au pairs provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare for up to 3 ½ months during the summer for children ages 2 years and older.

Summer au pairs participate in the same careful screening process and are subject to the same regulations as au pairs in the full-year program. Au pairs and host families are matched through the same personalized, one-to-one matching process and receive the same superior customer service support as yearlong participants.

Summer au pairs receive a week of intensive child safety education at our Au Pair Training School. Their specially designed additional course work while at the school plus a take home project fulfill the U.S. Department of State educational component with no additional cost to our host families. This gives au pairs more time and flexibility once they arrive at your home.

Apply now: It’s never been easier!

The cost of hosting a Cultural Care Summer au pair is about $7 per hour—an affordable alternative to a nanny, daycare or camp. 

For more information contact Local Childcare Coordinator, Vicky Elkins at (901) 268-2449

Extension Program

Posted by: velkins on March 18, 2007

Your family now has the opportunity to keep your au pair for up to an additional 12 months!