Youth For Understanding
Encyclopedia
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is one of the world's oldest, largest, and most respected international exchange programs. Each year, YFU exchanges approximately 4,500 students worldwide.
Note: This introduction only reflects the US-side of YFU-organisation. The exchange program itself originated in late summer 1951 by the High Commission in Germany HICOG as the "Urban/Rural Teen-Age Exchange Program". Already in its first year it was supported by members of the Michigan Council of Churches (MCC) under the motto "Youth for Understanding". Within the next 10 years it evolved into two organizations YFU-USA and YFU-Germany. The first "exchange" from the USA to Germany was a summer program with 30 US high school students organized by MCC-alumni. During that year Germany became a sovereign country and the US government stopped funding the exchange program with Germany, which continued as a not-for-profit activity between the two YFU organizations in the USA and Germany. In 1961/62 a one year exchange program from the US to Germany was added with 6 initial students from the US.
The first trips across the Pacific and to Mexico were established in 1958, and South America in 1959.
YFU, Inc., the non-profit educational organization, was established in 1964, and the agency's offices were moved to Washington, D.C. in 1978.
During most of the 1990s, YFU, Inc. served as the primary administrative organization for applications and interviews in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
(CBYX) scholarship program, overseen by the now defunct United States Information Agency
(USIA). With the dissolution of the USIA toward the end of 1999, the CBYX scholarship program began to be reorganized on a regional basis, and YFU ceased its central administrative control.
By the start of the 2000s, a financial crisis forced YFU, Inc. into bankruptcy. The agency's offices were moved to Bethesda, Maryland, in 2002 and the agency was reorganized as YFU USA Inc. Ulrich Zahlten, founder and former chair of YFU in Germany became the new chairman of the board of YFU USA. After YFU, Inc. declared bankruptcy, it was entirely removed from the CBYX program due to its reorganization. The reorganization also reversed the agency's misfortunes — the annual report for 2005 reports four consecutive years of budget surpluses.
YFU USA has four district offices (Cambridge, Massachusetts
; Azle, Texas
; Bridgeport, Michigan
and Des Moines, Iowa
). YFU remains a volunteer-based organization as YFU USA has 1,500 active volunteers. There is also an active US Alumni Association, headed by an elected National Alumni Council.
students between some 50 nations. YFU offers a diverse range of educational opportunities for students, families, volunteers, and schools. All YFU programs center on the family living experience.
The YFU USA American Overseas Program provides opportunities for United States
high school students to live with a host family and study abroad for a year, semester, or summer. Each year, YFU USA awards over 350 full and partial scholarships. Many of these scholarships are to Japan and Germany, which are among the most popular destinations for American students. However, new sponsorships, from both the government and corporate sectors, have allowed more scholarships to be awarded for study in other countries.
The YFU USA International Student Program offers American families the opportunity to host an exchange student. In 2006 YFU welcomed more than 2,000 students from over 50 countries.
The YFU USA Community College Program brings the host family experience to young adults and is present at 15 community colleges across the United States.
Organization
YFU programs are delivered by over 50 autonomous and independent national organizations working as partners throughout the world. (see YFU offices around the world for further information)History YFU USA
Youth For Understanding was established in 1951 in the Detroit area and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1956. In its early years, the agency brought students from post-war Germany to live in the United States to experience the USA and, by 1955, the agency sent high school students from the USA on 10-week trips to Germany.Note: This introduction only reflects the US-side of YFU-organisation. The exchange program itself originated in late summer 1951 by the High Commission in Germany HICOG as the "Urban/Rural Teen-Age Exchange Program". Already in its first year it was supported by members of the Michigan Council of Churches (MCC) under the motto "Youth for Understanding". Within the next 10 years it evolved into two organizations YFU-USA and YFU-Germany. The first "exchange" from the USA to Germany was a summer program with 30 US high school students organized by MCC-alumni. During that year Germany became a sovereign country and the US government stopped funding the exchange program with Germany, which continued as a not-for-profit activity between the two YFU organizations in the USA and Germany. In 1961/62 a one year exchange program from the US to Germany was added with 6 initial students from the US.
The first trips across the Pacific and to Mexico were established in 1958, and South America in 1959.
YFU, Inc., the non-profit educational organization, was established in 1964, and the agency's offices were moved to Washington, D.C. in 1978.
During most of the 1990s, YFU, Inc. served as the primary administrative organization for applications and interviews in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange is a youth student exchange program founded in 1983. The program, which is dually sponsored by the United States Congress and the German Bundestag, funds exchange programs for German and American students through grants to private exchange organizations in...
(CBYX) scholarship program, overseen by the now defunct United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
(USIA). With the dissolution of the USIA toward the end of 1999, the CBYX scholarship program began to be reorganized on a regional basis, and YFU ceased its central administrative control.
By the start of the 2000s, a financial crisis forced YFU, Inc. into bankruptcy. The agency's offices were moved to Bethesda, Maryland, in 2002 and the agency was reorganized as YFU USA Inc. Ulrich Zahlten, founder and former chair of YFU in Germany became the new chairman of the board of YFU USA. After YFU, Inc. declared bankruptcy, it was entirely removed from the CBYX program due to its reorganization. The reorganization also reversed the agency's misfortunes — the annual report for 2005 reports four consecutive years of budget surpluses.
YFU USA has four district offices (Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
; Azle, Texas
Azle, Texas
Azle is a city in Parker and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,947.Popular tourist attractions include marine sports at Eagle Mountain Lake such as swimming, fishing and boating.-Geography:...
; Bridgeport, Michigan
Bridgeport, Michigan
Bridgeport is an unincorporated community in Bridgeport Charter Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes. The population was 7,849 at the 2000 census. Bridgeport is also the name of a post office with ZIP code 48722...
and Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
). YFU remains a volunteer-based organization as YFU USA has 1,500 active volunteers. There is also an active US Alumni Association, headed by an elected National Alumni Council.
Current programs
Each year YFU arranges the exchanges of more than 3,500 high-schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students between some 50 nations. YFU offers a diverse range of educational opportunities for students, families, volunteers, and schools. All YFU programs center on the family living experience.
The YFU USA American Overseas Program provides opportunities for United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high school students to live with a host family and study abroad for a year, semester, or summer. Each year, YFU USA awards over 350 full and partial scholarships. Many of these scholarships are to Japan and Germany, which are among the most popular destinations for American students. However, new sponsorships, from both the government and corporate sectors, have allowed more scholarships to be awarded for study in other countries.
The YFU USA International Student Program offers American families the opportunity to host an exchange student. In 2006 YFU welcomed more than 2,000 students from over 50 countries.
The YFU USA Community College Program brings the host family experience to young adults and is present at 15 community colleges across the United States.