FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS. This issue: FOA Au Pair Group successfully held its Year-End Party Year-End Party Photos Au Pair s Column Announcements and Events

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1 January 2013 Issue # 4 FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS This issue: FOA Au Pair Group successfully held its Year-End Party Year-End Party Photos Au Pair s Column Announcements and Events Editorial Staff: Jean Gocotano Mae Maglunob Leniel Panganiban Jess Layda Karen Legada Contributors: Patricia Parina Renalyn Ontolan Pangyao Group FOA AU PAIR GROUP SUCCESSFULLY HELD ITS YEAR-END PARTY For more than a year of providing counseling and legal assistance to all au pairs in Denmark, FOA Au Pair Group successfully held its Year- End Party last 29th of December at Saint Anne s Church. It was a break through with a lot of au pairs attended. Au pairs showed their talents in dancing, singing, stage play and others. Our speakers shared their stories from being an au pair to another phase of their lives such as being a student, a leader, got married and still working as an au pair in other countries. We have also a guest speaker from FOA and from KIT; who shared some issues related to au pairs. From preparations before the event, donations, sponsors, organizations and individuals who supported us to this event, we would like to thank all of you for being part of the success of FOA Au Pair Group Year-End party. FOA Au Pair group believes that the strength and our voice lie through our unity and collective actions. FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 1 of 8

2 Rosie Aggabao is an au pair here in Denmark for 9 months after working in Norway as an au pair. She is an active Youth for Christ and a choir member both in Denmark and in Norway. Mae Maglunob has worked in Holland as an au pair and was involved in Filipino Organization in Holland. She is presently an au pair in Denmark for almost a year now. She is one of the board member of FOA Au Pair Group and also one of the editorial staff of FOA Au Pair Group Newsletter; FOA Au Pair Speaks. One of her dreams is to continue her education here in Denmark. The masters of Ceremony; Rosie and Mae THE SPEAKERS: Patricia, Karen and Renalyn who share their stories from being an au pair to another phase of their lives PATRICIA; she s been an au pair for few months and applied as a student here in Denmark KAREN; she s been an au pair here in Denmark for almost a year and now she s working in Norway as an au pair RENALYN; she s been an au pair here in Denmark and after her contract she got married to a Danish guy and now she s pregnant. Continue reading their stories at pages 6 & 7 FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 2 of 8

3 SINGERS: Jenelyn Rejas, Jul Ladera, Franklin Cici, Mary and Leniel Panganiban RAFFLE PRIZES WINNERS FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 3 of 8

4 DANCERS/STAGE PLAY CASTS FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 4 of 8

5 FOOD, DRINKS, GAMES, DISCO and others FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 5 of 8

6 AU PAIR S COLUMN PATRICIA: I have been here in Denmark for 1 and a half year now. I was an au pair for 11 months from 2 different Danish families. When i was in the Philippines I always try to convinced my family that I don t need to finish my education, I wanted to go to Denmark and work as an au pair, I don t need to finish my degree and delay my chance to work and earn money, they always contradict to that idea but due to my persistence I came to Denmark a year before I finish my degree. I thought life would be easy here in Denmark But it wasn t especially with my host family, I know all au pairs can relate to the fact that some of the Danish family do not understand or refuse to understand the real meaning of having an au pair. My experience as an au pair leads me to realize the importance of education; I strongly believe that education opens an unlimited sphere of learning and vast opportunities for my dreams to become a reality. I realized that I can t be an au pair forever. I have to plan my future and I have to do it now. After being with two different families I applied for a student visa. I don t have enough money for my tuition fee that time and I don t know where to get it or how I can make it work. But I prayed really hard and hope for the positive outcome, it was not easy, i was not accepted by the school at first because I was undergraduate. I asked them to reconsider my application 3 times and they have disapproved my request 3 times but I never lose hope you know why? Because I don t give up my dreams I have to give it my best shot I feel I deserve a chance. So I made a letter of appeal to the head of the school and asked to review my application, in my letter I told them that I was a scholar in one of the best universities in the Philippines which is DLSUD and I will prove to them that I deserve to have this opportunity. A week after that I receive the approval from the school and the embassy. The next challenge for me was how to figure out how am I going to pay my next tuition fee and the money I borrowed from relatives and friends for my first semester. A lot of people discouraged me with the decision that I made, they told me it s useless because I cannot finance myself to finish my degree anyway but I never listened A week after my approval I found a job, I worked hard and study really hard... I saved all my salary for my tuition I got good grades in the school during my first semester and I applied for a scholarship. I was so blessed to be chosen as one of Copenhagen business academy s scholar, I can now study for free with a monthly grant from the school. I hope that my story will inspire you and make you realize that we should not stop dreaming and believing in realizing our dreams. # KAREN: I started to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong to help my family in the Philippines and to give my son a good future and education. Life in Hong Kong was quite hard. I had given a chance to work here in Denmark as an au pair. In 3 months working in my host family, I didn t mind the long working hours, I kept in mind that they were good and the work was not as hard as what we had experience in Hong Kong. I didn t know the rules as an au pair, I am scared of complaining and facing the consequences and I m thinking of my family way back in the Philippines. I have friends and I started to know my rights but still I am working extra hours without being paid. I didn t have a chance to enroll in a language school and learn Danish Language and culture as what cultural exchange is. My host family told me that it s a waste of time and its useless coz I m doing domestic duties; working all household chores, child care and even gardening. My host family even threatened me if I will terminate the contract.i am scared of losing my job. I started to join FOA-Au Pair Group and be a member. I knew now what my rights are. I am now working in Norway as an au pair too. I used all the knowledge that I learned in involving a group like this. I am thankful to FOA-Au Pair Group and also to all my friends coz I ve learned a lot and I want to share my knowledge to my fellow au pairs and friends that need help and assistance. Let s unite and be strong and be open to learn and know our rights.# FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 6 of 8

7 RENALYN: I m a former au pair who got married to a Danish guy. I will share my experience with you, my life being an au pair until I got married. I arrived here in DK last April 10, During the time being an au pair, I got 2 host families. The first one doesn t goes well, so I decided to change host family wherein I stayed for 20 months. I became a member of FOA-Au Pair Group from the start. A week after I joined the meeting with the group, I met this guy who became my husband. It started as a friend in FB and then we decided to meet in person. Meeting once during the weekend became our routine; we set time in watching movies, visiting some tourist s spots here in Denmark. Later on, he became my boyfriend and we re engaged last January 2012 and we planned to get married before my contract ends. However, it was complicated; my certificate of no marriage was expired. It must be valid 4 months from the date requested so we decided to postpone our plan. Instead, he focused on his job and I decided to pursue my plan to continue being an au pair in Norway. I visited a host family in Norway for an interview. During the interview, I told them about my boyfriend in DK. I didn t know that it would affect their decision in hiring me as their au pair. They informed me later after I m back in DK. I shared to my boyfriend about it and I m still hoping to find a new host family in Norway but we decided to continue our plan; getting married. I contacted my sister in Philippines as she helped me in getting a new CENOMAR and we are lucky that it s processed on time. We got married in Holbaek last June 2012 then we move to Sweden to live together. And now, we are expecting a little one this coming Spring Season and we are very happy having a baby. # THE PANGYAO GIRLS We celebrate our NEW YEAR at pangyao Lyn s host house...we played lot of games, we sing, we dance as we enjoy each other s company...we wait until 12 midnight to welcome We also did the Filipino traditions like putting coins on the pocket, jump many times and we use firecracker... That night is a memorable new year for everyone... FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 7 of 8

8 Ana and Maria are talking about the last FOA Au Pair Group Year-End Party. Thanks a lot too for joining. We are very thankful to all who attended and joined us especially to those who helped us and contributed a lot to the success of the event. Hi. Thanks a lot for inviting us to join in FOA Au Pair Year-End Party last 29 th of December. I really enjoyed the event and my friends too. Sure. You can join to the group too and be a member. FOA Au Pair Group has Facebook Group Page as well. We will post latest news, events and etc. Please inform us to FOA Au Pair Group s upcoming activities. We love to join. Illustrated by Leniel of Helsingor To access more photos during the event please click the link below: &type=2&theater f December FOA offers membership to all au pairs who are interested, and also FOA provides counseling both legal and welfare issues. Please contact us or visit us at FOA Main Branch or if au pairs are interested to be part of our newsletter, just send us your message or contributions at our address. ISTASYON PINOY 95.5 FM 95.2 Hybridnet TIME: Every Tuesday from 7:00 until 9:00 in the evening. Address: Staunings Plads 1-3, København Telephone No. : foa.aupairgroup.com Visit us at Facebook (FOA Au Pair Group) and join the group. TELEPHONE NUMBER: PUBLISHED: FOA Au Pair Group foa.aupairgroup@gmail.com CONTACT NO FOA AU PAIR SPEAKS Page 8 of 8