Au Pair of the Year Award for 2012 Announced

March 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Every year thousands of youth worldwide embark on a cultural journey by becoming au pairs.  Leaving behind the familiarity of their homeland for as long as one year, au pairs travel to distant countries, where they are welcomed into different cultures and become part of a new family.  For most of the au pairs, this is their first experience away from home and their first opportunity to experience a new country.

The “IAPA Au Pair of the Year” award is one way of giving au pairs the recognition and credit they deserve and enhances the public’s awareness of this demanding yet undervalued cultural experience.  

IAPA members ask host families to nominate outstanding individuals who, if selected, can act as a spokesperson for au pairs around the globe. The host family is asked to complete a Nomination Form explaining in a written essay why their au pair should be considered for the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award. The essay should be from 500 to 850 words (about 1 page, single spaced) and must be written in English.

Au Pair Finalists are required to write a short essay detailing their au pair experience. The winning au pair is invited to attend, with all expenses paid, the award ceremony that takes place every year during the IAPA Annual Conference and Work Experience Travel Market.  This year a German au pair, known as Birte, was given her award in Budapest, Hungary.

Birte is from Smart Au Pairs, an au pair agency located in the UK, with offices in Australia. Birte is the au pair for the Bess family and helped the family with the care for their two young children and newborn twins when they lived in Lambton, near Newcastle England. The Bess family, originally from the USA, knew they needed an extra pair of hand to help with the children after the twins were born.  Read more about the story here and learn more about the previous winners: www.aupairclearinghouse.com

"Au Pair" is a French phrase that translates, loosely, "as an equal" or "on par."  Au pairs are not considered nannies, nor are they considered "employees" - an au pair is a young foreign woman or young man, who desires to come abroad for a year, live with an American family, experience a new culture, travel and make American friends.

There are 14 unique and different au pair agencies in the United States.  Au Pair Clearinghouse is the first and only website that reviews and rates all 14 agencies and provides news stories and press releases on the au pair industry; interviews with experts in the field; offers top hosting tips for parents and publishes the Top Au Pair Agencies List.

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AuPairClearinghouse is the first and only website that reviews and rates all United States au pair agencies. We make choosing the best agency and best au pair for your family easy, affordable and safe. Finally, a better way to choose an au pair!