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.

Three Ways to Match Families and Au Pairs

Posted by: nmeng on February 4, 2010

Host families now have three ways to find just the right au pair to welcome to their home.  Rather reading all the details, you can see for yourself:

If you have problems seeing the video on this page, watch it on YouTube by clicking on this link:

Cultural Care Au Pair’s ‘Three Ways to Match’

Remember, too, that as your LCC, I will do everything I can to support you through the process by working closely with you and your matching manager, reviewing au pair applications, helping you construct the list of questions you’ll want to ask during your phone calls with prospective au pairs and anything else you feel might be of assistance.

Want to know more about Cultural Care Au Pair’s  ‘Three Ways to Match’?  Give me a call or send me an email. I’ll be happy to fill you in on all the details.

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.

Got Questions? We’ve Got “Au Pair Answer Mom”

Posted by: nmeng on June 4, 2009

In addition the corporate office staff, your Program Director, your LCC and your family infosource site, Cultural Care Au Pair now provides another resource to help Host Families get answers to commonly asked questions and gain deeper understanding of the Cultural Care Au Pair program.  Meet Au Pair Answer Mom, Susan Robinson.  Not only is she a CCAP staff member, Susan has been a Host Mom to nine (count them) au pairs in the past 14 years.

Click on this link to learn more about Susan, watch the videos that are already available, and keep tabs on new videos as they become available. Make sure to save your the page to your browser’s favorite places. You’ll also find a link to the page in the sidebar of this blog.

If you have a question you don’t see answered, send it to aupairanswermom@culturalcare.com for an answer.