About ARK International's Au Pair Programs - Working Holidays in the USA and Germany

The Au Pair program is a cultural exchange program with a difference.

It has taken the best of:
Working holidays – earning money
Exchange programs – living with a host family offering
free board and lodging and having a support system
European Au pair programs – minding children
Gap programs – suitable for time off from studies

The Au Pair program offers many travel opportunities.

Safety of the Program:
The Au Pair Cultural Exchange Program is organised just like a High School Exchange Program with vetted and carefully selected Host Families.

Our partner organizations, both in the USA and Germany, have a long history of working with High School Exchange Programs. They have created a good infrastructure for the support of the Au Pair and the Host Family.

They set strict criteria such as the hours and conditions of work, the pay, and the selection criteria for both the host families and the young women.

You are also assigned a co-ordinator who lives within an hour of your placement who deals with any problems and arranges monthly social activities.

There are two destinations for Au Pair programs available:

Marnie Rydon from Tokoroa left NZ in April to live in Larchmont, New York with the Levine family. Her host mother is an attorney and Marnie looks after Alex (13) and Abby (11).

“I am having the best time! I went to Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago with Abby because her grade was going on a trip. It was a nice place, shame about the weather though but it reminded me of playing netball in the rain because then and in Philly my feet were soaked. I have become an expert on playing MarioKart on the Wii and can tell you what Abby will find "cute" and what won't be. I can't wait for what else the year will bring.”