Patricia Brunner – Page 9 – International Au Pair Association

Report and video: EU Petition Committee discussion – 15 June 22

22. June 2022 by Patricia Brunner

On Wednesday 15 June 2022 the Petition (PETI) Committee of the European Parliament discussed the Petition submitted by IAPA in July 2021 to commence negotiations on a reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme between the EU and the UK to foster cultural exchange. The Committee had invited IAPA´s Managing Director, Patricia Brunner, to personally outline the request in a short online speech. The Chair of the Committee on Petitions, M.D. Montserrat opened the discussion by introducing the Managing Director of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA), Patricia Brunner. Patricia Brunner´s speech on behalf of IAPA In her speech, Patricia highlighted the …

Important update on IAPA´s Petition to the EU Parliament to negotiate a Youth Mobility Scheme with the UK

2. June 2022 by Patricia Brunner

We have good news! IAPA´s petition to the EU Parliament with the “Request to commence EU/UK negotiations to establish a reciprocal youth mobility scheme to reinstate bilateral cultural exchange” (Petition No 0827/2021) has been accepted by the EU Committee on Petitions. Why did IAPA submit this petition? After BREXIT came into effect, the Au Pair programme into the UK came to an abrupt halt. As a result, young people from the EU are not able to enter the UK as au pairs anymore (with only a few exceptions), UK host families are struggling to find childcare; and many UK Au …

Welcome new member Trotamundos, Colombia

20. July 202630. April 2022 by Patricia Brunner

Trotamundos is a travel and exchange agency based in Colombia since 1998. The organisation has two offices, one in Bogota and another in Cali. Their staff is an enthusiastic group of young, passionate professionals who help young Colombians fulfilling their dreams whilst becoming part of the international community. Trotamundos offers a variety of programmes, including AuPair in the USA, France and Germany, worldwide volunteering and work programmes. Further programmes are designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students to assist in summer camps, language courses and university programmes at an entry level. Trotamundos is very proud to be sending between 350 and …

Welcome to new member STB Student Travel Bureau, Brazil

20. July 202626. April 2022 by Patricia Brunner

We are very pleased to welcome yet another well-established organisation with a very long tradition – STB Student Travel Bureau, Brazil. Founded in 1971, STB Student Travel Bureau is the largest and most prestigious student travel and education abroad agency in Brazil and Latin America. With over 55 sales offices in Brazil, a fully committed call center, with Head Office in São Paulo and one international office (Australia), STB is a highly client-oriented service provider. The STB team is comprised of qualified people, all with a vast international experience. STB sends over 150 staff members per year to be internationally trained and …

We welcome our new Member TravelMate Intercambio, Brazil

20. July 202625. April 2022 by Patricia Brunner

We are delighted to welcome TravelMate Intercambio as our new member – an organisation that has been working in the field of international education programmes since 2002. Having been international students themselves, TravelMate’s founders wanted to provide their clients with the same transformative experiences they had themselves! Because of this passion that has driven TravelMate Intercambio for years, they now pride themselves on having offered study abroad and other great exchange programmes to more than 25,000 “mates”. Of all these clients, at least 1,000 were au pairs. TravelMate Intercambio is also a dedicated member of BELTA – Brazilian Educational & …

Alisson Bernarda Haro Zuniga wins IAPA´s 2022 Au Pair of the Year Award

20. July 202630. March 2022 by Patricia Brunner

Another strange year for the IAPA Au Pair community has passed and once again we were not able to hand out the Au Pair of the Year Award in person during our annual event WETM-IAC in Malta IAPA Chair Linda James announces the winner during WETM-IAC 2022 in Malta However, this year was the first year we could at least present the winner and show our Au Pair of the Year Award video to a live audience during our Conference on 19 March 2022 in Malta. In Malta’s beautiful Casino we not only opened the conference, but also celebrated this year’s winner …

IAPA´s Statement on the Developments in Ukraine

20. July 202625. February 2022 by Patricia Brunner

The IAPA community is dismayed and deeply saddened by the current developments in Ukraine. As a cultural exchange organisation whose aim is to bring people of different cultures together to promote peace, we firmly believe that the solution to conflict lies in talking and listening to each other, not in violence. For many years IAPA members have been placing au pairs from Ukraine and Russia with host families in the EU and the USA. We cannot imagine how heavy the hearts of our programme participants must be, how great the concern for their loved ones back home, given the current …

We welcome our new Affiliate Member – Energy Au Pair, Norway

20. July 20269. February 2022 by Patricia Brunner

Energy Au Pair is the largest au pair-agency in Scandinavia. Since 2006 Energy Au Pair has been matching au pairs from over 40 countries across the world with host families in Norway (https://energyaupair.no), Denmark (https://energyaupair.dk) and Sweden (https://energyaupair.se). The organisation coordinates the entire placement process: The team takes care of formalities and supports host families and au pairs before and after signing the contract. Cultural exchange is the center of Energy Au Pairs work. Therefore, services for au pairs are free of charge, and the organisation works hard to match au pairs with families they like. They put a lot …

French Association UFAAP held in-person meeting in Paris

24. January 2022 by Patricia Brunner

UFAAP in-person AGM – a much needed opportunity for personal exchange On Friday, 15 January 2022, UFAAP (French Federation of Au Pair Agencies) held its annual general meeting in Paris. UFAAP members finally had the opportunity to meet again in person and discuss the international situation concerning the impact of COVID -19. The au pair industry worldwide, namely the French organisations, have been through difficult times. But in the light of countries worldwide gradually opening their doors to au pairs again, French organisations are hopeful and expect new development perspectives in 2022. Cooperation between UFAAP and AIR CANADA A representative …

We welcome our new affiliate member Yellow Au Pairs, Netherlands

20. July 202613. January 2022 by Patricia Brunner

Yellow Au Pairs is a Dutch Au Pair agency that focuses on Au Pair outbound programmes. The organisation sends Dutch au pairs abroad. Always being personal and approachable is most important to them. The colour yellow stands for happiness, fun and sunshine, and that is what the agency represents and wants to deliver to its customers. Yellow Au Pairs places applicants all over the world. Together with their partner agencies, they help the Au Pairs from A to Z. “We just love what we do and wish for everyone to have an amazing time abroad!” says Samantha Klerx, owner and founder of Yellow Au …