Au Pair South Africa

As with many modern nations, South Africa does have an au pair program. Typically, an au pair program involves a host family providing a secure place to live and a small weekly or monthly allowance for the au pair in exchange for a dedicated amount of time for childcare and household chores and tasks for usually what consists of a one-year period.

The au pair provisions of South Africa allow for a cultural exchange between au pair and the host family. It is crucial to the success of any au pair arrangement that both the host family and au pair mutually respect each other’s cultures and beliefs.

In order to be accepted to the au pair program of South Africa, the young man or woman must meet certain requirements. Usually, the au pair must be between the ages of 18 and 24 if he or she is not South African and be able to commit to a full year of au pair duties. Any au pair must enjoy children that range in age from 3 months to 13 years and also have at least 200 hours of child care experience prior to joining the au pair program. It is also essential that any au pair be a non-smoker and has an excellent command of the English language.

One final requirement, which many people may not think about initially, is that the au pair must have a valid driver’s license. Many South African families are very active and lead mobile lives, with both parents working. The au pair will be responsible for taking the children to and from school, transportation to and from extracurricular activities, and running household errands.

Once placed as an au pair in South Africa, the au pair must be furnished with his or her own private bedroom within the host family’s home. Any agency placing the au pair will guarantee that the host family is a good, respectable family in a safe area, usually in the suburban area of a major city. Based on experience and duties, the agency will work to lock down the weekly or monthly stipend provided by the host family to the au pair and ensure at least two weeks of paid vacation.

All au pairs serving in South Africa will be awarded a legal South African au pair work permit. (For those au pairs that are South African, a South African employment contract will be awarded.) All au pairs will be allowed the opportunity to explore and travel around South Africa. Additionally, all au pairs will have the support of an established and respected agency in the JCR that is registered with the South African Department of Home Affairs and also sponsors the au pair visa.

Learning more about the South African au pair programs can be done through the JCR and also through the Universal Au Pair Association. Both organizations have websites where more information can be learned on becoming an au pair or host family and the requirements of each. There are also many agencies found online that specialize in setting up an au pair agreement in South Africa including the JCR, GreatAupair.com, C and C AuPair Company, and FindAuPair.com.

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