This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.  Especially today, many efforts are being made to promote environmental friendly practices. So far 31,466,703 billion acts of green were made in communities all around the globe (earthday.org). Some of the core issues are climate change, conservation and biodiversity, energy recycling and waste reduction and finding ways to grow in harmony with nature.

At home or in the office there are many ways we can support a “greener attitude”. goAUPAIR uses these easy green office tips to help save energy, money and resources:

We take advantage of the latest technology including, web conferencing, and online document management systems (this measure has reduced printing by 90 percent) to reduce printing, traveling, and waste creation. In addition to taking advantage of cutting edge technology, goAUPAIR also uses good old fashion scrap paper whenever possible. We encourage our employees to use more scrap paper and fewer notebooks.

In our corporate office building we have installed “smart lighting” that uses sensors that allow for lights to turn off in hallways, offices and conference rooms after a period of inactivity. This measure alone has drastically reduced our energy consumption. We also have installed a water filtration cooler to avoid buying bottled water and creating more waste. goAUPAIR also contracts a garbage disposal service that sorts and recycles all garbage in addition to using recycling bins for paper and soda cans.

Besides our sustainable practices in our corporate offices, goAUPAIR encourages all employees to protect the environment. The majority of our employees live within ten minutes of our offices and drive fuel efficient vehicles, including two hybrid vehicles. We also have employees that work from home in order to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.

Here are some links to find more ways to celebrate Earth Day everyday at work or at home:

http://earthday.nature.org/?gclid=COWNjYubm6ECFRLxDAodAn-wNw

http://www.earthday.org/

Thousands have been affected by a tragic earthquake that hit western China on Tuesday morning las week. The 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Qinghai, China at 7:49 a.m. local time (7:49 p.m. EST). There have been at least three aftershocks, with the biggest measuring at a magnitude of 6.3.

Early reports say there are more than 400 dead and over 10,000 injured with many others still missing. The damage from the earthquake in the mountain centered town located near Tibet was tremendous. It's estimated that over 85 percent of the city’s buildings have sustained some type of damage.

Qinghai is located in the high mountains of western China. At over 12,000 feet above sea level the mountainous town is now reeling in the damage left from the earthquake. However, the Qinghai area is no stranger to strong earthquakes; in 2008 more than 70,000 people were killed in an earthquake in a neighboring city.

Phone services to towns near the epicenter of the earthquake have been restored; however, rescue teams are struggling to find survivors. Because of the remote location of Qinghai, the clean up efforts are slow but progressing. The lack of heavy machinery like excavators is making it difficult for people to move the large amounts of rubble. Although survivors have been pulled from the debris there are still many missing.

"Thousands of volunteers are going to disaster area. On the Internet people have started donations. Everyone's heart is beating with the people who are suffering in the disaster area.  We hope more and more people could be rescued; we hope the food and medicine would arrive as soon as possible." - Sai liu, Au Pair from China living in Atlanta, GA

goAUPAIR was pleased to attend and participant in the annual Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference in Miami, Florida last month. During the conference some the employees from goAUPAIR had the chance to meet with International Representatives and potential future representatives from various parts of the world. 

During the conference goAUPAIR was recognized as a Long-Standing Member of the International Au Pair Association. This recognition is given to members that have held membership in good

standing for 10 years. Meghan Ramirez, received the award from Jack Hompes, the IAPA Executive Board Chairperson, on behalf of goAUPAIR.

“The WETM-IAC (IAPA) Conference allows many of the leading Au Pair organizations in the world to come together and meet in one location.  Meeting existing partners in person and talking about the Au Pair program face to face, and what both sides can do to improve it is essential to a good partnership (…) You begin to develop an actual relationship with each agency to foster a better working environment and in effect, better applicants.     

Featuring seminars, community action programs, award ceremonies and more, WETM-IAC enables delegates to help shape their business and the industry for tomorrow.  Representatives from goAUPAIR took part in several informative seminars, practice discussions and case study reviews.

“I am glad we were able to meet together as an Au Pair community and discuss issues that are important to all of us. I was able to meet so many of our agents and put a face to their names, to hear their stories a

nd why they are involved in the Au Pair program.”

WETM-IAC Conference provides a unique opportunity for organizations working with cultural exchange, Au Pair and work experience programs to meet and ‘to establish and strengthen sector-focused partnerships, gain industry intelligence and tap into emerging global markets.’

“As the International Representative Coordinator, I feel that being able to talk with the people that I work with without the separation of email or the phone will make our cooperation go much smoother in the future. I learned a lot about the Au Pair industry around the world, and hopefully will be able to put what I learned to good use.”

goAUPAIR is always reaching out for better alternatives and new resources to make the Au Pair program more effective to our Host Families. Meeting International Representatives and making connections with agencies from all over the world gives goAUPAIR a chance to recruit Au Pairs from more cultures and backgrounds which gives our Host Families a greater variety of Au Pairs and countries to choose from. 

  For more information about the annual Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference visit http://www.iapa.ca/

When necessity calls for both parents to work, the first question that rises is, “What about the kids?” Today, there are many child care alternatives. Flexible schedules, quality and qualifications of care providers, and of course, price are some of the points to consider when choosing between all options.

Some popular child care options are nannies or babysitters. They are typically residents (legal or illegal) of the U.S. and are usually hired by word of mouth, nanny agencies and job boards. Although many of them have years of experience, they are not required to have any specific qualifications.

Au Pairs are young adults who come to the U.S. to live with a family while providing 45 hours of child care each week. Au Pairs initially come for one year, but can extend for a second. All Au Pairs speak English and complete an extensive application process which includes references, interviews, physician’s report, criminal background check and psychometric tests.

As part of our ongoing effort to improve customer service to our Host Families and Au Pairs, all of our Host Families have the option of having their Au Pair attend our live training held in New York. The training content is designed to help Au Pairs provide the best child care while having a successful year with their Host Family. Some of the topics covered in our live trainings include first aid, child activities ideas, common meals, driving tips, international calls and cell phone use, homesickness and culture shock.

Another benefit of hosting an Au Pair is that during the placement process our Host Families have the assistance of our dedicated Placement Coordinators who will review in detail, the preferences and qualifications of the Au Pairs for which you are looking. goAUPAIR developed the Mutual Match system based on our 20 years of experience to help Host Families find the best possible Au Pair for their unique needs. All Au Pairs participating in the goAUPAIR's Au Pair program are required to complete a full application and screening which includes the following:

    * In-person interview
    * 2 child care references
    * 1 character reference
    * Physician's report
    * Letter to potential Host Families
    * Clean criminal background check
    * Psychometric test
    * Personality test
    * High School graduate or equivalent
    * 32 hours of training on safety and child development
    * Pictures

Because of all the advantages Au Pairs have over other child care options, there is a misconception that they are not affordable for every family. The truth is that a weekly cost of having an Au Pair is less than most child care options. According to the National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies, child care providers charge on average $9.10/hr, the average cost of hosting an Au Pair’s is only $7.58/hr.

Hiring an Au Pair instead of a nanny or babysitter, gives young adults from foreign countries the opportunity to travel to the United States in order to work, study, and learn about a culture different from their own.  In addition, the Host Family is treated to the type of personal child care they are looking for. Host Families and children are given the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and learn about other cultures and learn a new language.

For more information please visit the New York Family Guide and our goAUPAIR.com.

goAUPAIR has partnered with Care.com to provide you and your family an even larger number of resources to help you find the most suitable child care option for your family's needs. Care.com will now have an exclusive section on their Web site dedicated to Au Pairs. The new Au Pair section will include resources for families regarding Au Pairs as well as the ability to search available Au Pairs from all over the world.

goAUPAIR will provide information from hundreds of available Au Pairs for the new Care.com Au Pair search. Families who find an Au Pair from goAUPAIR on Care.com will be eligible for an exclusive goAUPAIR $800 discount on their programs fees.

 “We are happy to partner with Care.com. With our new partnership, families searching on Care.com now have access to hundreds of well-qualified Au Pairs.” said Tanna Wilson, Managing Director for goAUPAIR. “We are hopeful our new partnership will give many more families the opportunity to participate in the Au Pair program.  Whether a family is looking for greater flexibility and peace of mind or an enriching cultural experience, the Au Pair program is always a popular choice among families looking for child care.”

Care.com provides a trusted place for families and care providers to easily connect, share care giving experiences, and get advice. Families will also be able to find featured articles, parenting tips and interesting facts about child care.

As you may have noticed, we occasionally share information from Alliance for International Education and Cultural Exchange. goAUPAIR is an official member of Alliance and we support the organization’s tireless efforts in support of international educational exchange.

For a better understanding of what the Alliance for International Education and Cultural Exchange organization, we wanted to share a snippet from their newly redesigned Web site.

"The Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange is an association of 79 nongovernmental organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States. Founded in 1993 after a merger of the International Exchange Association and the Liaison Group for International Educational Exchange, the Alliance serves as the only collective public policy voice of the exchange community.

Our mission is to formulate and promote public policies that support the growth and well being of international exchange links between the people of the United States and other nations."

We will continue to post relevant content from Alliance on our blog to help keep our readers abreast of the latest news regarding international diplomacy and educational exchanges. Feel free to contact goAUPAIR with any questions regarding Alliance or how you can play a part in international diplomacy.

As the Obama administration and many other international organizations strive to increase international diplomacy, many are turning to non-traditional media. In order to reach youth across the world, organizations like Alliance for International Education and Cultural Exchange are using social media.

For millions, social media has become the new way of communication and for others it has become a new and effective tool for international diplomacy. Where else can you send messages, share photos, chat and interact with a worldwide community?

Recently Jared Cohen, social media expert on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, spoke with NPR about the place of Twitter and other social media in international relations and civil society.

"The main idea behind the Alliance of Youth Movements is to recognize that civil society has fundamentally changed. You still have your traditional NGOs and organizations that are out there doing great grassroots work. But you also have a new cadre of civil society actors, and these are the young people who, you know, they have a URL or a Web site instead of an office, they have followers and members instead of a paid staff, and they use open-source platforms instead of having a robust budget."

Social media provides an open door to reach millions of youth. For example, when Au Pairs come to the United States, they stay in contact with their family and friends primarily through Twitter, Facebook, blogs and Skype. After an Au Pair leaves a Host Family, it is not uncommon for Host Families and Au Pairs to stay connected through various forms of social media. With the ability to post pictures, comments, stories and talk for free, the world has become a little smaller with social media.