Youth For Understanding USA

Youth For Understanding USA (YFU USA) is a nonprofit educational organization partnered with a global network of YFU organizations in more than 60 countries that exchanges more than 4,200 students annually. YFU advances intercultural understanding, life-long learning, global competencies, mutual respect, and social responsibility through transformational educational exchanges for generations of youth, families, and communities, supported by dedicated volunteers and professional staff. As one of the industry’s oldest exchange organizations, YFU began in 1951 under the direction of \ Dr. Rachel Andresen, whose vision to build international understanding and world peace began with US host families welcoming 75 German teenagers in an effort to heal the wounds of World War II. As a full immersion exchange program, the primary cross-cultural activity is daily living with a host family for an academic year or semester. More than 270,000 students and families have benefited from YFU exchanges.

YFU USA provides support services to participants, including cross-cultural orientation, counseling, and language tutoring. These services are provided by more than 1,300 trained volunteers throughout the United States. Each YFU international partner maintains a national office and trained volunteer force to provide support to U.S. students abroad.

Competitive scholarship programs — Government, corporate, and foundation partnerships account for millions in annual merit-based scholarship funding. High school-aged students can apply for scholarships if they maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and apply before deadlines from December 1st through late January. For more information, please visit the YFU USA website, www.yfuusa.org, or call 1.800.TEENAGE.

In-bound Year, Semester Programs & Hosting for U.S. Families – More than 1100 students (ages 15-18) travel from more than 60 countries to the US for one academic year or a semester, to live with YFU volunteer host families and attend school, if applicable. English language proficiency is required for most programs. Students are covered by accident/illness insurance and bring their own spending money.