Start of the EuregioAuPair project: by and for people from the European region of Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino
Initiative is aimed at an 18-30 year old
- Promotion of knowledge and cultural exchange between the three parts of the country
- Subsidy from the Euregio of 250 euros per month for a maximum of six months
With “EuregioAuPair”, the European region of Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino supports young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who would like to spend an au pair stay in one of the three parts of the country. The aim of the pilot initiative is to promote the exchange of knowledge and culture between Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino and to further promote mutual growth. EuregioAuPair offers young people from the Euregio the opportunity to spend an au pair stay with host families in another part of the Euregio, to work in childcare and also to receive a monthly contribution of 250 euros per month for a maximum of six months provided by the Euregion. The project has now started in the implementation phase, as Euregio President LH Maurizio Fugatti (Trentino), LH Gunther Teller and LH Arno Kompatscher (South Tyrol) emphasize.
“The EuregioAuPair program was decided last year in Innsbruck under the Tyrolean Euregio chairmanship and I am very pleased that we can now start implementing this specific project. The initiative contributes to a further in-depth exchange between the regions. With EuregioAuPair, young people have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and language through local host families and at the same time to bring the host family closer to their own homeland – in the spirit of Euregional cooperation,” explains LH Plate. Euregio President and LH Fugatti emphasizes: “This initiative allows young people from the Europaregion Tirol-Alto Adige-Trentino to experience the spirit of the Euregion by spending a period of time in one of the other two countries in close contact with the people who live there. This enables a fruitful exchange of experiences and lays the foundation for lasting relationships.”
“Through the youth exchange between the Euregio countries, all opportunities can only gain experience and understanding, both the young people themselves and the host families,” also leads LH Compatcher out.
Improving language skills, making cross-border friendships
In addition to the exchange of knowledge and culture, EuregioAuPair offers participants the opportunity to improve their language skills and make new friends during their stay with the host family. The participants receive pocket money from the host family and do not have to worry about accommodation and meals. The monthly Euregio contribution can be applied for in addition to pocket money.
Organization of an au pair stay
The stay should be organized, whereby the organization can be done independently or via au pair agencies. In an autonomous organisation, the participant looks for a host family on his/her own and takes the organizational and administrative aspects into his/her own hands. You can contact the host families directly via various online platforms. If the stay is handled by an au pair agency, the participant should inquire directly with the agency about the conditions, rules and requirements. In order to receive the Euregio subsidy, the participants must send the application form and the contract and then the confirmation to the responsible state office in advance of the stay. In Tyrol, this is the South Tyrol, European Region and External Relations department (address: Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz 3, 6020 Innsbruck, e-mail: external [email protected]).
Interested parties can also contact the InfoEck – Jugendinfo Tirol: Kaiser-Josef-Straße 1, 6020 Innsbruck; www.mei-infoeck.at/jugendinfo/ab-ins-ausland/au-pair.
Those interested in staying in Trentino can also contact the InCo association (Via Sighele 3, 38122 Trento; www.incoweb.org) or Civico 13 – Lo Sportello Giovani del Trentino (Via Belenzani, 13, 38122 Trento; www.sportellogiovanitrentino.it ) to inform.
More information about the project can be found at www.europaregion.info/aupair/.