Cultural Exchange Organisations To Benefit From Industry AwardsThe two global trade associations behind the Work Experience Travel Market & IAPA Annual Conference taking place in the USA next March, will present two special awards that highlight unique contributions to the global cultural exchange industry.
By: WYSE Travel Confederation Au Pair of the Year Award Each year, IAPA presents its Au Pair of the Year Award to a young person who embodies the spirit of cultural exchange. The winner is selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by host families from around the world who have had their lives transformed by the placement of an au pair by one of IAPA’s member agencies. “This is the seventh year that we have presented the Au Pair of the Year Award and each year it serves to remind the industry of the importance of cultural exchange, not only in terms of international relations but also on a personal level. I look forward to rewarding and celebrating the winner’s wonderful achievement” Judged by a panel of IAPA representatives, winners over the past years have included as many young men as women. Last year’s winner was 24 year old Brazilian, Ricardo Silva de Araujo, who spent a year with his host family in Virginia, USA caring for their son. WYSE Work Abroad Partnership of the Year Award Face-to-face meetings and the ability to forge long-term business relationships are a key part of the WETM-IAC conference, and essential to the success of organisations placing young people in work abroad programmes worldwide. WYSE Work Abroad’s new Partnership of the Year Award recognises the importance of these partnerships, particularly during the current economic climate. “At WYSE Work Abroad, we want to demonstrate the tremendous networking value provided by our conference and through membership of our association. The Partnership of the Year will be awarded to two organisations who have met at one of our events and formed a successful business working relationship that has benefitted young people wishing to work and volunteer abroad” says Elizabeth O’Neill, Chair of the WYSE Work Abroad Association. The winning organisations of the Partnership of the Year Award will each receive a paid one-year membership of the global trade association. The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference Now in its sixth year, the WETM-IAC Conference is devoted exclusively to organisations providing cultural exchange and work abroad programmes such as au pair placements, internships, gap year, work exchange and volunteer programmes. 250 plus organisations representing more than 40 countries are expected to attend the two and a half day event in Miami. Traditionally held in a different European city each year, this year’s conference will take place in the USA for the very first time – reflecting the importance of North America as one of the world’s leading receiving markets for work experience and au pair placements. The conference will be hosted at the InterContinental Hotel Miami, from 17-19 March 2010. Organisations interested in attending the Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference can register at www.wetm-iac.org For media inquiries or for more information, please contact: Deborah Fitzgerald +31 20 421 2800 d.fitzgerald@ Andrew Singer +45 50 90 51 90 Andrew@wystc.org About WYSE Work Abroad Association WYSE Work Abroad Association is the leading global forum and trade association for organisations involved in work abroad programmes. WYSE Work Abroad Association was formed in October 2006 through the merger of the Global Work Experience Association (GWEA) and the International Association for Educational Work Exchange (IAEWEP). The association’ To find out more about the Partner of the Year Award visit: www.wyseworkabroad.org About the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) The International Au Pair Association (IAPA) was established in 1994 by cultural exchange organisations seeking to improve and protect the rights of au pairs and host families around the world. The association has been responsible for the creation of internationally recognised guidelines for au pairs and exchange programmes with its 160 plus member organisations agreeing to abide by the IAPA Codes of Conduct: signifying competence, fair dealing and high integrity. To find out more visit: www.iapa.org Note to editors: Conference organisers IAPA and WYSE Work Abroad Association operate under the umbrella of the WYSE Travel Confederation, a 550-plus member organisation that is the global voice of the youth, student and educational travel community End
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