Liza G.F. Lansang, a Filipina, to assist in the research

Au pairs have been coming to the Netherlands from all over the world since the 1960’s. Au pair means "equal to" or “as equal” and the au pair program is a cultural exchange program for a young person to learn more about the Dutch way of life while living with a host family. The au pair does light household work in exchange for board and lodging and an allowance. Originally, the majority of au pairs in the Netherlands came from neighboring Eastern European countries and South Africa. 

However, in recent years, more and more au pairs from the Philippines have been coming to the Netherlands. In 2010, for example, 1,364 au pairs came to the Netherlands, of whom 460 (ca. 35%) came from the Philippines. The number of au pairs coming from various countries, including the Philippines, is expected to continue increasing in the coming months and years. This is especially expected in the case of the Philippines, which last February officially lifted the ban on au pairs bound for all European countries.  In the light of these developments, the Scientific Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), the independent research center of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, is conducting a research on au pairs in the Netherlands.

As a graduate student at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and an intern at WODC, I am assisting our head researcher, Djamila Schans, PhD, and researcher Moria Galloway in this research. This is an independent research effort which aims to get to know more about the situation of au pairs in the Netherlands in order to inform future policy. WODC has sought the help of  Sticthing Bayanihan as consultant in this research project. Both quantitative and qualitative research will be done.

Au pairs listed with the IND will receive letters in September asking them to fill in an on-line survey and in return they will each be given 10 Euros for participating. Apart from this survey, we will interview some au pairs in-depth about their motivations to become au-pairs in the Netherlands, their experiences as au pairs here, and their future plans. Those participating in this will also be given 10 Euros each. We will conduct the interviews in full confidentiality and we guarantee that no participant’s identity will ever be disclosed.

The overall results of the research will be published and a copy will be provided to Munting Nayon next spring when the project is completed.

We  are encouraging au pairs to participate in the survey when they receive the questionnaire and to contact us if they would like to participate in the interview. We would like to hear from au pairs with good experiences as well as those with bad experiences to give a well-rounded picture of au pair life in the Netherlands. We believe it is important to share YOUR story. What is your motivation for being an au pair? What do you think about being an au pair? What could be improved in the au pair policy, according to YOU?

If you would like to participate in the interview (completely anonymous and with 10 Euros incentive) please contact me at my email address:

l.g.lansang@minvenj.nl

Maraming Salamat!

Liza G.F. Lansang

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine