[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AU PAIR PROGRAM

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                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2011

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, on June 9th, the Department of State will 
hold a reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the au pair 
program. Host families, au pairs from Germany, Brazil, Thailand, South 
Africa, France, Sweden and Mexico, along with other countries, and 
federal officials from the Department of State, will participate in 
this event recognizing the strength and longevity of this cultural 
exchange program.
  The first au pairs arrived in New York City in June of 1986. Since 
that time, the program has witnessed dramatic growth, thanks in part to 
the leadership and vision of one of the first authorized sponsors, Au 
Pair in America, a division of the American Institute for Foreign Study 
(AIFS), located in Stamford, Connecticut. AIFS helped establish a 
regulatory framework that has allowed more than 87,000 young people to 
live with and care for the children of American families during a 
mutually rewarding one- or two-year experience.
  This exchange experience has profoundly changed the lives of au 
pairs, the young children they care for and their host families through 
their daily exchange of ideas and broadening their global understanding 
through a sharing of culture, language, and religion. Furthermore, au 
pairs have been active contributing members of their American community 
where they live through their engagement in community and religious 
activities, giving of their time and talents to charitable 
organizations and volunteering their time to teach young children in 
schools about their native country.
  As a proud alumni of one of AIFS's study abroad programs, I can 
personally attest to the unique educational opportunity living outside 
your native country provides a young student. For me, it was a life 
changing experience, helping expand my horizons and alter my way of 
thinking.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my voice in commending all those who 
have worked to develop and expand the au pair program over the past 25 
years.

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