Dear Host Family,

My name is Emmah, I am 26 years old and from Kenya. I am a caring, patient, playful and flexible person who genuinely enjoys being around children. I have 7 years of childcare experience through caring for my younger brother, nieces and nephews, working as an au pair in Italy, and working as a nanny in Qatar. These experiences have taught me that caring for children is not only about keeping them safe and meeting their daily needs, but also about understanding them, listening to them and making them feel comfortable and valued.

During my year as an au pair in Italy, I cared for two children aged 4 and 6. We enjoyed baking together, reading stories, cycling, going to the park, and I helped with school runs and homework. What made that experience meaningful was how my host family welcomed me into their lives. We shared meals, travelled together, took part in family activities, and they supported me whenever I needed help. They made me feel like part of the family, and their home became my second home. That experience taught me that being an au pair is not only about caring for children, but also about building trust, respecting one another and becoming part of a family’s everyday life.

I also previously worked as a nanny in Qatar, caring for a 2 year old child. I was responsible for feeding, changing diapers, personal hygiene, playing, putting her to bed and singing lullabies. My experience caring for children from infancy has taught me that young children need much more than attention. They need someone who can understand their emotions, remain patient when they are upset and create a calm and friendly environment where they feel secure.

One experience that I am especially proud of was building a relationship with a shy child. At first, she was very quiet and afraid, but by giving her time, listening to her and allowing her to feel comfortable at her own pace, she gradually became more confident and her fears began to fade. I have also taught English to children I cared for and encouraged them to speak up whenever something was bothering them. Giving children my full attention helped me build trust with them and understand their individual personalities and needs.

I would now like to become an au pair in France because I would love to experience French family life and discover the culture through everyday experiences. My time in Italy showed me how much I enjoy learning about a country by living with a family, sharing meals, taking part in family activities and experiencing their way of life. France interests me for the same reason, but I am especially excited to learn more about French traditions, food and family life while improving my French naturally through daily communication. I also enjoy learning languages. I speak English and Swahili and I am currently learning French, with some basic Italian, German and Arabic as well.

As an au pair, I would be happy to help with the children’s routines, support their learning, organise creative activities, read with them, prepare simple meals and help with light household tasks related to the children. I can also share my English with them and encourage them to practise naturally through games and everyday conversations. I enjoy cooking, reading, music and cycling, and I would be happy to share these interests with the children.

Having already lived and worked in different countries, I understand the importance of respecting a family’s home, privacy, routines and rules. I am comfortable following schedules, communicating openly and adapting to a new environment. At the same time, I value a warm relationship where the au pair is treated with respect and feels included as part of the family.

I am looking forward to finding a French host family with whom I can build a genuine relationship based on trust, respect and good communication. I would love to share my Kenyan culture and experiences with your family while learning from yours and becoming part of your everyday life. I hope to create a positive experience where both the children and I can learn from each other and make meaningful memories together.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I would be very happy to get to know your family, learn more about your children and see whether we could be a good match.

Warm regards,
Emmah