Archive for the 'Videos' Category
Au Pair of the Year 2009
No Comment |Posted by: velkins on April 12, 2009
For the second year in a row, the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) has chosen a Cultural Care au pair as their “Au Pair of the Year” award winner! Cultural Care is proud that out of over 50,000 au pairs nationwide, IAPA has chosen Ricardo as their winner for 2009. IAPA is the global trade association for qualified au pair agencies and companies, and, since 2004, their “Au Pair of the Year” award is one way this organization has been able to highlight the incredibly positive impact au pairs have on their host families.
On November 16, 2007, Brazilian au pair Ricardo Silva de Araújo, traveled to the U.S. to live with the Boyer Family in Richmond, VA. Host parents Kim and John have three older children who no longer live at home, but their youngest, Taylor was 16 years old when Ricardo arrived.
The Boyers have been hosting male au pairs since 2004 to help care for Taylor who has had brain damage and a seizure disorder since infancy. Taylor speaks but a few words and he is small for his age - he’s just five feet tall and 80 pounds - but, like other boys, he goes to school, walks, loves to play ball and visit the local hangouts. Host mom Kim says, “Every child is a privilege and a child with special needs is just a more challenging privilege.”
Although most of his childcare hours came from working in a Primary School and babysitting, Ricardo had some experience caring for special needs children back in Brazil. Upon meeting the Boyers, he immediately acquainted himself with Taylor’s needs and jumped right into the family’s hectic schedule. The first year went so well, Ricardo decided to extend his year in the U.S. and stay another 12 months.
Host mom Kim Boyer couldn’t be more thrilled - and the letter she wrote to nominate Ricardo for “Au Pair of the Year” explains why.
“It became apparent that Ricardo was an exceptional young man, full of compassion, patience, gentleness, and a desire to see the disabled enjoy a life like yours and mine as much as possible. He never tires of encouraging Taylor to meet his challenges and reach beyond them whenever possible. The friendship that has developed between the two of them is loyal and enduring.
He has truly enhanced Taylor’s life in a way I never thought possible; and in a way I will forever be grateful. Ricardo is an excellent example of all that one would hope for in a childcare provider but also all that one would enjoy as a precious ’son’ and dear friend. He is truly the spirit of Cultural Care and the best in mankind.”
Ricardo is just as grateful for the experience he’s had at the Boyer household. “We [Taylor and I] are good friends, best buddies. I want to make him as happy as I am, and give to Taylor good moments by my side.
To Taylor I give my best, this is the way to thank him for all that he taught me. Our friendship will be forever. His disability it is not an obstacle for his happiness, this makes me feel good. I came to America as an au pair, I will leave like a better human. Special needs are not an excuse to not to find the happiness and the real meaning of life.”
Ricardo was honored at IAPA’s Annual Conference and Work Experience Travel Market in the Vienna, Austria on March 25th. He will also attend Cultural Care Au Pair’s National Meeting in Los Angeles, CA at the end of April. Cultural Care Au Pair would like to thank Ricardo - and all of our au pairs across the country - for their commitment and dedication to their Cultural Care host families.
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Aupair of the Year 2008
No Comment |Posted by: velkins on June 2, 2008
Please click on link to watch the video:
Each year, The International Au Pair Association, or IAPA hosts an “Au Pair of the Year” award as one way to highlight the incredibly positive impact au pairs have on their host families. (IAPA is the independent global trade association for qualified au pair agencies and companies.) Each year, IAPA receives many of nominations from host families, not only in the U.S., but the world over, who believe their au pair to be deserving of this honor. We are proud that 90 of the nominations submitted for the 2008 award were submitted by Cultural Care host parents.
Cultural Care is thrilled that IAPA has chosen Cultural Care au pair Linda Falter as their 2008 Au Pair of the Year Award winner! Linda arrived to live with the Sato family in July 2006 and has since contributed to the lives of her host parents and host children in many different ways.
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Cultural Care Aupair Video
No Comment |Posted by: velkins on July 23, 2007
This video motives young people from differente countries who has experience with children to apply to Cultural Care Aupair. Click on the link to watch the video:
Before a Cultural Care au pair is accepted for placement, she must pass through several steps of an extensive screening process. This screening cycle plays a crucial role in determining an applicant’s suitability for the au pair program. In addition to assuring that an au pair candidate meets the U.S. Department of State Regulations, the screening process developed and implemented by Cultural Care targets five major criteria on which it bases a decision to accept or reject an applicant:
- Childcare experience
- English language ability
- Maturity/suitability to spend a year abroad
- Interest in cultural exchange
- Good health
While these five categories represent the focus of Cultural Care’s screening efforts, the evaluation of an au pair candidate is not limited to these issues. Through personal interviews, calls to references, English evaluation, completion of a personality profile, criminal background check, and a highly structured screening and orientation meeting, Cultural Care actively collects information to evaluate each au pair. In addition, Cultural Care carefully reviews material submitted by references, health care providers, and candidates themselves.
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