„Just before becoming a pensioner in 2011, I read a report about Granny Aupair in the paper. I knew at once that it was for me, I applied immediately and found my first host family after just two months. I flew to Australia with butterflies in my stomach. I remember exactly the first day I saw my Australian family. Everything was perfect. I became a member of the family very quickly. The mother and I had a relationship practically like mother and daughter. I haven’t regretted this step for a second and will certainly try it once again. I was able to give a lot, but also received much in return.

Following nine months at home, I became restless once again and registered at Granny Aupair once more. This time it only took four weeks until I received the positive answer from my new family in Nairobi. I also spent a wonderful time there. The mother, a lovely, fiery Italian, little Anita, the sweetest baby imaginable and the father contributed a lot to making me feel at home. I visited an English course at a language school and met many young nice people from all over the world.

It was very difficult to say goodbye to this wonderful family. My time as a Granny has made me stronger and more self-confident. I am beginning to love this age, it gives me so much freedom. I am sure this wasn’t my last trip. I would like to share my experiences to encourage other older women, to try out something.“

"I have now been in Gambia for exactly seven days, have experienced quite a lot and got to know many nice people. I live in one of the five guest rooms, with showers and WCs in the garden. Many globetrotters are here – very interesting. The work at school is quite different from the preschools and nurseries in Germany. The children are between three and seven years old and come from very poor circumstances. I work quite a lot with paints and nice paper, which is sponsored from Germany, something the children haven’t done before. It’s great fun and the children are thankful for the diversion.”