Tuesday, November 17, 2009

International Adventure

LOCAL CHILDCARE COORDINATOR, JENNIFER FRUEH ATTENDS CULTURAL CARE AU PAIR INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT IN BERLIN, GERMANY
In honor of the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Sterling, VA, November, 2009 - Local Sterling resident Jennifer Frueh was recently invited to join more than 75 of her peers at an international summit in Berlin, Germany, hosted by Cultural Care Au Pair. Frueh is a Cultural Care Au Pair local childcare coordinator for Sterling, Potomac Falls, and Lansdowne.

As a local childcare coordinator, Jennifer supports area families who are currently hosting an international au pair in their home, as well as the au pairs themselves. Jennifer earned her invitation to the summit by expanding the program in VA in the previous year, as well as for her role as a local community resource for parents interested in intercultural childcare.

The group was in Berlin for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a fitting venue for the celebration of Cultural Care Au Pair’s 20 years of providing a childcare and cultural exchange program for American families. “It was fascinating to be part of the celebrations and hear from Berliners about what it was like before the wall came down,” says Frueh. “It’s incredible to think that just 20 years ago, it would not have been possible for some of my German au pairs to come to the United States. The dismantling of the wall shattered cultural and travel barriers for them. ”

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, also in Berlin for the celebration, spoke at the U.S. Embassy. “It is such a great personal privilege to be joining with the German people, and people throughout Europe and the world, to celebrate this occasion…to commemorate that day 20 years ago when the Berlin Wall gave way to a new era of peace in a united Germany, in a united Europe…We’re celebrating the triumph of democracy and freedom, and the important role of the German-U.S. relationship.”

Jennifer is a member of a nationwide network of more than 600 local childcare coordinators dedicated to promoting global understanding through intercultural childcare. In addition to supporting a local group of host families and their au pairs, Jennifer organizes social activities throughout the program year, advises au pairs on educational opportunities in the community and provides advice on intercultural exchange. Jennifer and her colleagues use the conference as an opportunity to network with other coordinators and collaborate on the most effective means to support their families and au pairs locally, ensuring a positive experience for everyone involved with the program.

Jennifer is currently matching area parents who are interested in hosting an au pair with available au pairs from around the world. She can be contacted at 703-798-6059 for additional information on the Cultural Care Au Pair program. Interested families may also visit Jennifer’s web site at jfrueh.aupairnews.com.

Cultural Care Au Pair is the leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 70,000 au pairs in welcoming American homes. A U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an extensive network of recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide. For more information about hosting an au pair, visit www.culturalcare.com or call 800-333-6056.