Rewarding Outstanding Au Pairs

Through the auspices of the International Au Pair Association, a new award has been created to commend outstanding individuals who have participated in cultural exchange programmes as au pairs.

(PRWEB) January 31, 2004 --Each year thousands of young people from all over the world embark on a special journey by becoming au pairs. Leaving behind the familiarity of their homeland for up to one year, au pairs travel to distant countries where they are welcomed into another culture as a part of their host family.

For many au pairs this is their first experience of a different country and culture and for the most part it is a positive and rewarding experience for all parties involved. This is the message that IAPA is keen to convey, not only to the media, but to potential au pairs and host families as well", says Paul Browne, IAPA Association Manager. "Establishing an 'IAPA Au Pair of the Year award is one way of recognizing au pairing as a life enriching cultural exchange experience". Host families of IAPA member agencies will be contacted and asked to consider nominating their au pair for this award. The first IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award will be presented at the Associations 10th Annual Conference, in Cannes, France in March 2004.

A panel of IAPA representatives will select three finalists from among the qualifying entries. Each finalist will be asked to write a short essay detailing his/her au pair experience. The three essays will be evaluated and a winning entry chosen. This event is expected to generate wide international media coverage, benefiting not only the Association and its members, but the au pair industry as a whole.

The winning au pair will act as a spokesperson for au pairs around the globe and will be invited, all expenses paid, to attend the Associations 10th Annual Conference where he/she will present the winning essay and receive the award from IAPA President Birte Domenge, herself a former au pair. Ms Domenge, President of IAPA since 2002, and a member of the Executive Committee since 1996, runs her own successful agency in Nice and is actively involved in organising the 2004 Annual Conference in Cannes.

About IAPA
IAPA, an independent Association within the legal framework of the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO), was founded in 1994 by representatives of cultural exchange programmes who recognised the need to monitor and improve the quality of all aspects of au pair programmes. The Association aims to promote and develop au pair programmes as a form of cultural exchange and establish internationally approved guidelines for au pair exchange programmes.

About FIYTO
FIYTO is the worlds only global membership Association and trade forum for reputable organisations that specialise in youth and student travel. Since it was founded in 1950, the Federation has worked to promote and protect the identity of youth travel. The Federation currently has 500 members from 80 countries, making it the global meeting point for this important segment of the travel industry.

Further Information
For more information about the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award and the IAPA Annual Conference contact Paul Browne at the IAPA Secretariat on +45 3317 0066 or mailbox@iapa.org