Enter your nanny in the 'UAE's Best Nanny Award'

Dubai - Nannies will be marked on their ability to build a caring and nurturing environment for the children

Do you think you have the best nanny in the UAE? If so, then you have until November 10 to nominate her for a countrywide award which, if crowned the winner, will see her receive a retirement savings plan worth one million in her home currency.
For the second year running, Rise (a startup company that seeks to help migrant workers) has launched the 'UAE's Best Nanny Award', which last year saw Filipina, Lorina Bunio take first prize.
The popular competition, which garnered more than 100,000 votes through Facebook last year, saw 200 nannies nominated for the prize. After a tough judging process, 20 nannies were eventually shortlisted, with the three winners receiving cash prizes of Dh5,000, Dh2,500 and Dh1,200 (respectively).
But this year, the Dh5,000 first place cash prize is being replaced by a retirement savings plan of one million in the winners home currency. That converts to approximately Dh70,000 (in Philippine Pesos), Dh56,000 (in Indian Rupees), Dh24,000 (in Sri Lankan Rupees) and Dh44,000 (in Bangladeshi Taka) - or Dh50,000 invested in equal installments over 10 years - whichever is lower.
"We launched this competition last year to help dispel the negative stories about nannies here. For many, they are the backbone of the family so we want to highlight that," Salha Moloo from Rise told Khaleej Times.
Last year's winner Bunio was (and still is) a loving second mother to two little girls. Helping support a single working mother for three years, Bunio's employer described her as "the family's angel, the glue that holds us together" during the nomination application. And when the 30-year-old Filipina found out she won, she was shocked.
"This was my first time working as a nanny so I was surprised I won because some of the other nominees had been doing it for 10 years or more," she told Khaleej Times on Monday.
This year, she said she wishes all the nominees the best of luck and hopes the families they work for are as special as the one she now lives and works with full-time.
With this year's judging based on four main criteria, nannies will be marked on their ability to build a caring and nurturing environment for the children; instill a healthy eating and nutrition plan; support the child/children's learning and development; and understand child safety and emergency handling.
Four judges will make up this year's panel including early years teacher Jennifer Walter; former TV star of the hit TV show Nanny 911, Stella Read; UAE-based dietician Caroline Kanaan and Moloo from Rise.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com
 
Nominate: www.facebook.com/GrowWithRise
Closing date: November 10
Award ceremony: November 25 (top 20 nannies will be invited)
Visit: www.gorise.co

• UAE
• Dubai