Nancie Meng

Putting Kids First: helping at-risk children worldwide

Posted by: nmeng on February 27, 2010

CCAP Staff in South Africa

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact Nancie Meng, Local Childcare Coordinator, on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.

New Mid-Atlantic Families: Lock in $1000 Savings, Apply By 2/09/10

Posted by: nmeng on February 7, 2010

Mid-Atlantic Families new to Cultural Care Au Pair’s program can lock in savings of $1000.00 (more if you take advantage of my LCC rebate once you welcome your au pair) by completing your application by midnight on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Here’s how the savings break down: 

• You apply for free - $75 savings
• We waive the Au Pair selection fee - $275 savings
• You get a Program Fee Discount - $500 Savings
• Overseas Connection Package - $150 value

Add in my LCC rebate and this all adds up to more than $1000 worth of savings to you!  All this with no risk or obligation!  

Whether you are satisfied with your current situation or not, what can it hurt to sign up, learn all about our program and what it offers?  If something changes or when you find that our program suits your needs, you are prepared and ahead financially.

To claim these savings:

• You must be new to Cultural Care Au Pair
• Contact me directly for information and the promo code
• Complete your applications by midnight on Tuesday, February 9, 2010
• Welcome an au pair by October 22, 2010.

Remember, there is no risk or obligation to you if decide not to select an au pair or you choose to delay the selection process. 

Don’t hesitate to contact me:

Email:  nancie.meng@lcc.culturalcare.com

Phone:  410-208-1028

Winter 2010 in Ocean City, Maryland

Posted by: nmeng on February 7, 2010

Since December 2009 the Eastern Shore of Maryland has had more snow than usual.  This LCC is still snowed in by the storm that began on Friday, 2/05/10 or I’d try to get to the beach to take my own video.  Here’s a video taken by someone else in January 2010.  I can’t wait to see what the beach and boardwalk look like this week.

If the video doesn’t work for you, try a different browser or just click on the following link to watch it on YouTube.com.

Winter 2010 in Ocean City, Maryland

Match for Donations Through Red Cross for Haiti

Posted by: nmeng on January 22, 2010

For those of you wondering how you can contribute to the relief efforts for Haiti, at Cultural Care Au Pair and our parent company EF Education First, we believe in connecting people as citizens of the world, and breaking down barriers of language, culture and geography. Never is that mission more important than in a time of crisis.

In order to reach out to the people of Haiti, EF Education First (Cultural Care Au Pair’s parent company) will match up to $100,000 of employee, student and customer donations made through the American Red Cross.

We believe this is our responsibility as a company, as educators and as global citizens. We hope you will join us and other members of the Cultural Care community in our effort to aid the millions of Haitians who need our support.

Together, we can make a difference.

Click here to make a donation:
http://american.redcross.org/efeducationfirst-emp

Explore the Eastern Shore and More: Washington, DC

Posted by: nmeng on September 18, 2009

Washington Monument -- Washington, DC

Lower Eastern Shore au pairs will cross the Chesapeake Bay and travel to Washington, DC on Saturday, September 19, 2009, as part of their Explore the Eastern Shore and More program.   After a day of visiting monuments, museums and more the group will join about 70 other Cultural Care au pairs for an international dinner in Great Falls, Virginia before heading home again.

Reminders for the trip have been sent via email to the au pairs.  If you have any questions, please contact Local Coordinator, Nancie Meng at nancie.meng@lcc.culturalcare.com.

CCAP President Presents: From the Heart

Posted by: nmeng on September 9, 2009

Last week we announced the launch of CCAP’s new online community.  This week Cultural Care Au Pair President, Dave Fougere, added another resource for Host Families and Au Pairs. And he is providing even more transparency about CCAP’s programs, through his new blog Speaking From the Heart.

Dave, the father of two boys and a host father himself, hopes to interact with Host Families, Au Pairs, Cultural Care staff and others in the global discussion, so join the conversation by making a comment, sharing a story or concern.

As Dave says, “It’s about my kids, too.”

Keep up with Dave — father, host dad and CCAP President at: http://www.culturalcarepresident.com

Join Cultural Care’s On-Line Community

Posted by: nmeng on September 3, 2009

Meet other Host Families and discuss all things CCAP

Cultural care has launched a new, innovative on-line resource for Host Families.  In the Cultural Care Community families can ask questions, share ideas, ”best practices” they use with their au pair, report a problem they are having or give praise.  Cultural Care staff, LCCs and other host families join the discussion and can help answer your questions.  

This new community is not meant to replace the customer service structure and systems that we already have in place, but rather to give host families a public forum to share with us and to connect with other families. It’s simple to join the conversation. Just visit http://community.culturalcare.com and let us know what you think!

Important News About Travel to Canada

Posted by: nmeng on July 14, 2009

New Visa Reqs for Czech and Mexican citizens visiting Canada

For a complete list of all countries whose citizens require a tourist visa to enter Canada as well as information on how to apply for a visa, please follow this link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

CCAP urges all au pairs and host families to check to see if they need a tourist visa for any country they plan to visit. If you have an au pair in your group looking to travel out of the U.S., it’s important that they check with their embassy/consulate to see if a visa is required. A great resource to find their embassy is www.embassyworld.com Rules and regulations regarding travel can change, so please take the time to educate yourselves about requirements early in planning your trips.

June’s Meeting Kicks Off “Explore the Eastern Shore and More…”

Posted by: nmeng on June 17, 2009

Assateague Island is a Maryland highlight.

Don’t miss the Au Pair Monthly Meeting for June!  We will be kicking off our very own “Explore the Eastern Shore and More” program.  Besides the individual and personal expeditions au pairs make around the area and beyond, this is the chance for our group (and au pairs from any other area, whether they are Cultural Care Au Pairs or not) to plan where they want to go and what they want to see and do as a group for the next year. 

Should we start with a Kayak tour of Assateague Island?  Maybe we should do the annual Bridge Walk across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge into Annapolis and visit the U.S. Naval Academy while we are there?  And let’s not forget that about an hour beyond Annapolis lies Washington, DC?  How about a scavenger hunt on the Mall with au pairs from groups around Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia?  Who wants to attend one or more of the wonderful festivals in Baltimore or visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia?  See what I mean? 

What do you have to do?  Check out the following:

• Make a list of all the places on the Eastern Shore and in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, you would like to see as well as activities you’d like to do. If you haven’t got a list already, then do a little research online or elsewhere to decide.
• Pick the top three that you’d like to do as a group with other au pairs
• Talk to your host families about dates or schedule commitments that you need to consider for the next 3-6 months so that we can choose dates that work for as many as possible. 
• Come prepared to make some decisions!

This month’s meeting will be at my home (131 Watertown Road, Berlin, MD) at 2:30 p.m.  There will be a make-up meeting on Thursday evening, June 25, at 7:00 p.m. for anyone who can’t make Saturday’s meeting and anyone else who wants to just drop by.

Remember all au pairs are welcome, whether they are in our group or even from other au pair companies!  Just let me know you’re coming.

Welcome Kira, Lisa and Carolin

Posted by: nmeng on June 9, 2009

Welcome to our new au pairs