About Us
Sunshine Au Pair, established in 2012, is a recognized agency by the Dutch Immigration Office. We have grown from a small group to over a hundred au pairs in the Netherlands, thanks to our dedicated team. We provide comprehensive support to host families and au pairs, including professional interview feedback, rigorous reference checks, stringent documentation and visa arrangements. We also organize quality events and offer online and in-person classes for au pairs.
We serve the entire Netherlands, with most host families in major cities like The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Rotterdam, as well as smaller villages. While our majority au pairs are from Asia, we welcome participants from around the globe.
For more details, please contact us directly or visit our Costs page for information on our services and fees.
Lucy and her partner, Rens, started Sunshine Au Pair at the beginning of 2012. She graduated with a degree in Business English and had tremendous experience working in the hospitality industry in China; from a front desk receptionist to an office secretary. After five years, she took a gap year to experience life abroad. In the last eleven years, she has built her one-person business to now, a team of ten. She started from zero and successfully established a new life in the Netherlands. Rens and Lucy have two girls who are seven and nine years old. Lucy works in our office in The Hague. She enjoys cooking, working, and outings with kids. She is the backbone of Sunshine Au Pair. She looks forward to supporting host families and au pairs with her years of knowledge and experiences in the industry, aiming to make these exchange years enriching for all.
Sally came to the Netherlands when her husband received a job transfer fifteen years ago. She has more than ten years of experience working with customers in various sectors including IT, logistics and warehouse, corporate gifts and B2C e-commerce. She has also ventured into network marketing, mentored a team of business owners, and taught a variety of personal developments and leadership topics. She now supervises the company’s operations and facilitates interactions between EU au pairs and families. During her free time, she loves reading, spending time with her family and baking. Her favourite Dutch snack is stroopwafel and she will not miss her annual oliebollen treat! She lives in The Hague with her husband, their three children and their dog.
Elske initially joined Sunshine to provide Dutch Culture courses. Over time, she transitioned to becoming a contact person for European au pairs and has now taken on the role of a placement call coordinator. In her position, she invites families to discuss the march, programs and any questions they may have. Additionally, Elske supports the documentation team.
Her academic background includes studying Human Resource Management, and she previously worked for a recruitment agency. However, her journey led her to Asia, where she worked as a teacher, writer, and recruiter. While Elske was born and raised in the Netherlands, and still loves cheese, she is now living in a beautiful jungle village in India.
Elske’s passions extend to cycling, cats, playing the piano, gardening, drinking tea, writing stories, reading, and the joy of teaching language!
Barbara is a British citizen but has been living an international life for the last two decades in several European countries. She came to Sunshine Au Pair at first as an English language teacher, offering courses to au pairs who were keen to improve their language skills as part of their experience. After enjoying working with the girls so much and gaining an insight into the lives of au pairs and their host families, Barbara was ready to become more involved in the business and is now a program manager for Sunshine. Barbara ran her own successful language school business prior to joining Sunshine and in previous roles, has worked as a marketing manager for a FTSE 100 company, a website usability consultant and testing manager. Barbara’s heart lies in helping people and talking through their individual needs and so she is looking forward to meeting and helping many new host families on their au pair journey. Barbara currently lives in beautiful Norway with her husband and two big kids (14 and 10).
Grace is the Candidate Manager at Sunshine Au Pair, leading the candidate management team with expertise and dedication. With a background as a registered nurse and over ten years of experience in B2B and B2C sales and account management in the fintech, telecommunications, and insurance industries, she brings a strategic and people-focused approach to ensuring a smooth and efficient recruitment process.
In her role, Grace oversees the screening and selection of au pair candidates, maintaining a dynamic database to match them with the right host families. She facilitates interviews, streamlines the recruitment process, and provides training to help au pairs prepare for their journey to the Netherlands.
Outside of work, Grace is a coffee enthusiast and owns a small café business in the Philippines. She also enjoys creating DIY crafts, planners, and journals. In her free time, she loves traveling with her husband and daughter.
Maia is Sunshine Au Pair’s Compliance Manager. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship, she went to the Netherlands to be an au pair. She developed herself through this one year of cultural exchange and learned to be independent during her extensive travels all over Europe. She worked previously for an insurance company in the Philippines, where she completed training in Business English Speaking and Grammar, Business Process Improvement Concepts, and various trainings related to Health and Mental Wellness. At Sunshine, she is in charge of all relevant administration work, including consolidating application documents and organizing agreements. In her free time, she likes to bake and has a cookie business in the Philippines.
Bruna is our Program Coordinator (Int) and the representative of Latin American au pairs, especially Brazilians. She accompanies our au pairs throughout their exchange year by keeping in touch with the regularly through follow-up meetings. She enjoys listening to their stories and is intrigued with different cultures. She was an au pair in the Netherlands in 2008/09 and then pursued her PhD in Sociology specializing in Brazilian au pair trajectories in the Netherlands. In 2011 she started her teaching career as a high school teacher. She is now teaching in a university. In her free time, she loves expressing herself through tribal fusion dance and spending quiet time with her close friends.
Mona has 5 years of experience as an Au Pair in Europe (Denmark, Norway and Netherlands) which provided her with relevant knowledge and firsthand experience of the European Au Pair program. She works as Sunshine Au Pair’s back-office assistant that plans Sunshine’s first video talk, follows-up on the reference checks, assists on administration work, and manages Sunshine’s social media platforms. With Mona’s innate positive and cheerful personality, she embodies the company’s goal of what a successful Au Pair experience should be, and with her help, she can deliver Sunshine’s support to the Au Pairs and host families. She loves to sing, dance and travel. She is looking forward to meeting all the new Au Pair applicants who would like to join the Au Pair program, and to share her experiences and knowledge with them.
Francis graduated in Information Technology more than a decade ago. Since then, she has not only gained knowledge and experience in that field, she has also ventured into starting a small business in 2021.
Before Francis joined Sunshine, she had worked 12 years as an academic coordinator and registrar in a school in the Philippines. Through her entrepreneurial experience, she was given the opportunity to also teach business related subjects at the school.
Francis is always willing to lend a hand to people around her. Active in her community and has tremendous experience in organizing and managing events for good causes, Francis’s motto of life is to be a positive influence to those around her. She is passionate to use her God-given talents to benefit others. She now works to conduct quality interviews and to support host families to find their au pair as she eases into her role as a placement coordinator at Sunshine.
Juliana is a dietitian nutritionist by profession. She has more than five years of experience in child nutrition, public health and health education. Her passion is to see a person develop and be well. She sees personal development and well-being of a person pivotal for a society to progress, and that is her motivation to be involved in healthcare. Juliana was an Au Pair in the Netherlands in 2022. Thanks to this experience, she recognized that au pair cultural exchange programs can play an important role in helping a person develop. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain new or even different perspectives about the world around them. Therefore, she wants to be part of this work to create communities of au pairs, and to support them to learn and grow. This was her personal experience and she would like to have other au pairs to experience that as well. On top of that, she loves to travel and learn about the cultures of the world; she is passionate about human rights and is an animal lover.
Russell will be taking on the role of Social Media Coordinator with Sunshine Au Pair. He is looking forward to working with Sunshine, as it fits with his bubbly personality, his interest in trying new things, and his sense of adventure. Russell is a graphic artist, and he loves to draw and sketch in his free time. He also has a sticker business in the Philippines, which is his personal passion project.
Vanie is one of Sunshine Au Pair’s Visa & Documentation Coordinator and is in charge of reviewing and consolidating Au Pair documents and handling Au Pair queries. She graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Marketing Management, and has a wealth of experience in her work as an internal auditor and in previous roles in the fields of sales and marketing. Vanie is glad to work with Sunshine, as she finds joy in assisting people who are in need, and she is good at getting along with others. During her free time, she enjoys visiting places with beautiful views and relaxing atmospheres.
Cunha was an au pair in The Netherlands in 2022 and it was a turning point for her, as she loves to travel and share experiences involving culture, local food and entertainment. Now, she is a Program Manager at Sunshine helping families with finding suitable candidates and supporting them during their hosting year. She considers herself to be passionate about communication techniques and languages and she has a post graduate degree in teaching Portuguese and English, as well as a background in International Logistics. As a Brazilian, she loves her dances (especially samba) and she enjoys barbecuing with family and friends and also bike riding at the beach
Carolina has a deep passion for the Au Pair Program. She was an au pair herself in the Netherlands in 2008/2009, and with over four years of experience as an au pair mentor specially for Brazilian, she has guided many young women through this unique journey. Her professional background includes more than 10 years in sales, business development, and customer relations at large international companies. Carolina also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, specializing in Public Relations and additionally, she is an English Teacher. As a former au pair and mother of a 9-year-old boy, Carolina understands both the challenges and joys of the au pair experience. Her expertise enables her to offer exceptional support to both host families and au pairs, ensuring an efficient and smooth placement process. She supports families and au pairs to find the perfect match, arranging interviews, and facilitating an enriching experience for everyone involved during the whole process until the end of the au pair year.
Lovely is one of Sunshine Aupair’s Visa & Documentation Coordinator. She was an au pair in the Netherlands and Norway for three years. After returning home in 2023, she completed a Web Development Bootcamp to expand her skills in IT programming languages. Her previous roles as a Customer Service Representative, IT Staff, and Chat Support Agent have equipped her with strong problem-solving abilities and valuable customer interaction skills. These varied experiences, including her enriching time as an au pair, have helped her develop flexibility and excellent communication skills. She thoroughly enjoyed her time in Europe, where she pursued her passions for travel, trying new foods, exploring cities, and experiencing diverse cultures. Now, she is dedicated to assisting au pairs with their Visa and Documentation applications, ensuring a smooth process before their arrival in the Netherlands.
Vem is a registered social worker currently working in Human Resources. As a Visa & Documentation Coordinator at Sunshine Au Pair, she helps ensure the smooth processing of au pair documents, working closely with compliance teams, host families, and au pairs. With a strong background in legal advocacy and employee relations, she has experience in HR, project management, and social work, supporting marginalized communities through various NGOs. Since she loves helping others, Vem looks forward to guiding future au pairs at Sunshine, making sure they have a smooth and well-supported transition into their cultural exchange journey. In her free time, she enjoys chatting with people, hanging out with friends, and spending quality time with family.
Jenny is a licensed teacher in Thailand with nearly a decade of teaching experience. She began her career in the Philippines, spending four years in private education before moving to Thailand, where she has been working in an international school. Over the years, she has taken on multiple roles, including English teacher, reading specialist, and Head of the Library Department, showcasing her leadership and dedication to education.
Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Management, equipping her with strong organizational and leadership skills. Her expertise in management naturally extends beyond the classroom, leading her to join Sunshine Au Pair Agency as a Program Manager. In this role, she provides vital support to both au pairs and host families, ensuring a smooth and positive experience throughout the program. Her background in educational management allows her to effectively oversee operations, coordinate logistics, and create a well-structured support system for all participants.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally and spending her free time baking. She values the balance between professional growth and personal fulfillment, making the most of her time in Thailand for both career and leisure.
Maniella is a dedicated and detail-oriented professional with a strong background in candidate management and recruitment. With expertise in streamlining application processes, tracking candidate progress, and ensuring a seamless onboarding experience, she is committed to creating efficient and structured placement solutions.
Understanding the importance of finding the right match, Maniella focuses on clear communication, organization, and a people-first approach to recruitment. Her ability to implement strategic hiring solutions ensures that both candidates and host families experience a smooth and well-supported placement process. Through adaptability and a commitment to excellence, she strives to enhance the overall efficiency and success of the program while prioritizing positive experiences for all involved.
Outside of work, Maniella enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. Shopping and bonding with loved ones serve as a way to unwind and recharge, bringing balance to her professional and personal life.
Sunshine Au Pair is a recognized au-pair agency of the Dutch Immigration Office.