Rationale

Every 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 as long as one year (some times longer), 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 new country and culture.

For the most part, au pairing is a positive and rewarding experience. In recent years much of the publicity concerning au pairing has concentrated on a few isolated negative events and this has strongly impacted the public perception of au pairing. 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.

The event generates wide international media coverage, benefiting not only the Association and its individual members, but the au pair industry as a whole.

Nominations from host families
IAPA Members ask their host families i.e. families that have received an au pair through an IAPA member, to nominate outstanding individuals (au pairs) 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.

Submissions from the host families are reviewed by a selection panel comprised of IAPA Board Members and the Association Manager. Entries are reviewed and au pair finalists selected.

Au Pair Finalists
In order to qualify for the award, each au pair finalist must write in their own words a short essay detailing his/her au pair experience.

Essays are evaluated by the selection panel and a winner chosen.

The winning au pair is required to attend (all expenses paid) the award ceremony which takes place every year during the IAPA Annual Conference and Work Experience Travel Market.

The 2008 award will be presented in The Hague, Netherlands in March 2008.

IAPA has presented four Au Pair of the Year Awards, the first in 2004 in Cannes, France and the most recent in Riga, Latvia in 2007.