Au pairs are leaving for Panama City this season.
Jenni Pouramo is one of the new season au pairs. Jori Heikkinen
Challenging families. Hard farming methods. Finding a new family on a tight schedule. These are familiar things to many au pairs.
Although also new friends, memorable experiences and the accumulation of language skills.
The adventures of Finnish au pairs have been followed in Yle since 2014. In the eighth season beginning in May, au pairs head to Panama City.
Last spring Yle MOT conducted an extensive investigation into the disadvantages of reality TV programs. The Au Pairs series also came to the fore. Among other things, Au pairs were placed in families where children were subjected to physical violence. The cases shocked Finnish au pairs.
In the fifth season of the series, the au pairs headed to Miami. The home of one au pair was also located in the most infamous part of the big city known for its crime, where the au pair felt insecure.
Many of the au pairs interviewed by Yle would have needed the help of conversation to unleash the mental burden and the aftermath of the program. However, they said it was not offered.
In – depth interviews
Content Director of Mediawan Production Company Emilia Valentin says production in the new season has further increased resources for pre – interviews and background research. The size of the production team in the target country has also been increased.
– We are always assisted by a partner operating in the destination country, who meets families and visits their homes. The well-being and safety of the performers is a matter of the heart for us, Valentin tells Iltalehti.
He says au pairs and families participating in the program will be thoroughly interviewed before filming begins. Before the trip, the au pairs receive a guide about the destination country and the job, as well as advance information about the future family.
Au pairs also do first aid and emergency training before leaving.
– The documentary series describes the real everyday life of au pairs, so during the casting process we also discuss possible difficult situations that may arise during the filming. Before filming begins, the au pairs and families will also discuss how the program will be conducted, working abroad and cultural differences.
Tiia Korhonen, Jenni Pouramo, Iida Karhula and Iina Liukkonen are the main characters of the new au pair season. Jori Heikkinen
Cultural differences
The production company is told that no one will be placed in a family that is known to have difficulties.
– However, cultural differences, for example in the way children are brought up, can lead to surprising situations, as everyone who has worked as an au pair knows. If, as the filming progresses, it is found that the environment is too heavy or difficult for the au pair, the family will be changed, Valentin says.
Valentin says that compared to the experiences of ordinary au pairs, au pairs participating in the program come with exceptional support to turn to. He says the production company will help them come to a tight spot quickly and to the end.
– An ordinary au pair is completely different in itself in a new job and culture.
The production company is told that au pairs receive basic information about their families from the Casting stage. Families are met in advance via video, so the au pair can also ask questions themselves. If the au pair ends up changing families during the trip, they get to meet new families themselves.
In the new season, Tiia Korhonen will change her family in the middle of the season due to problems. Jori Heikkinen
Chat help
Valentin says that during the Casting interviews, the suitability of the performers for the program and how to do it will be mapped out.
– We strive to find energetic, balanced and self-initiated, young adults as participants. During the process, performers will be asked how they themselves perceive their ability to work as an au pair and whether something in their situation could be a barrier to participating in the program.
Valentin says that au pairs can also use the psychological discussion help provided by the production company as well as other services covered by occupational health.
– Au pairs also have the opportunity to receive discussion support in Finnish at a remote doctor’s and psychologist’s office while in the target country.
Valentin emphasizes that the production company is in contact with the performers throughout the production cycle.
– We encourage the au pairs of the program to stay in touch with us on a low threshold even after the program has been completed.