Multicultural au pairs share their heritage with community

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY- Cultural Care au pairs from around the world gather at their recent International Music Festival. The event was held by the au pairs for their hosts and other local families to bring attention to the many cultures the girls represent.

In First Neighborhood, Westlake Village, Cultural Care au pairs from around the world shared their national heritage with the Conejo Valley community by presenting a family friendly International Music Festival.

The au pairs were joined by their host families and families from the local community.

Children attending the festival received backstage passes and proceeded to seven stations with different activities representing various areas of the world.

The event culminated with a 35-minute show under a giant oak tree featuring singers and dancers from various countries and interactive sections for the audience.

The au pairs, representing Australia, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden and Thailand, are living with families in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo, Malibu, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village as part of Cultural Care Au Pair's intercultural exchange and child-care program.

They provide up to 45 hours per week of flexible, affordable child care for local families while taking classes and experiencing a piece of Americana for one or two full years.

In addition to the activities and entertainment, families could join a raffle for a Kids First CD and Kids First goodie basket. The raffle was held to raise money for the Kids First philanthropy sponsored by Cultural Care Au Pair.

Kids First is dedicated to helping "at-risk" children around the world. Ubuhle Babantwana, an orphanage in South Africa; Casa do Zezinho, a daycare center in Brazil; and St. Mary's, a school in New Orleans, will benefit from the funds raised through the raffle and matched one-to-one by Cultural Care.

Some of the highlights shared at the event were face painting, tambourine making, a musical instrument-matching card game, songs and dances from other countries and the show.

For more information, contact Emily Davis at (805) 371-8855 or emily.davis@llc.culturalcare.com or visit www.culturalcare.com.