Today, YFU USA administers the Youth For Understanding programs
in the United States.A network of over 50 partner offices and
organizations, YFU's global history began very humbly in the
United States. In 1951 an American minister, John Eberly, proposed
to church leaders that teenagers from war-torn Germany be brought
to the United States to live with a family and attend high school
for a year in an effort to heal the wounds of World War II.
This proposal met with approval from State Department officials.
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"I wondered how it ever would be possible to rebuild
what had been destroyed. Even more important, what had
been damaged within people's lives and hearts. What
could I ever do?"
- Dr. Rachel Andresen, YFU Founder, written after a
visit to Europe in 1947 |
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The hardships prevalent in Germany after World War II were
having devastating effects on the country's youth. It was
felt that an exchange experience could help them to break
out of this cycle of bitterness, hopelessness, and despair.
By teaching a group of young people how families lived together
in the United States, the hope was that they would be motivated
to go back to Germany and rebuild a new country, a democracy,
according to what they had observed while living in the United
States.
The students selected were from the oldest age group which
had not been part of the "Hitler Jugend" (the youth
organization of the Nazi regime). The students were between
15 and 18 years old and, as it later became apparent, it was
exactly this age group which seemed to be most able to naturally
participate and adjust to the lifestyles and values of a foreign
family and community.
In 1951, 75 German teenagers were selected by the Army of
the Occupation to come to live in the United States with American
families for one year under the auspices of the US Department
of State.
Detroit, Michigan, area community and religious organizations
helped place the students in American homes on a voluntary
basis. Dr. Rachel Andresen, Executive Director of the Ann
Arbor/Washtenaw Council of Churches, educator, and social
worker, was asked to lend her assistance.
In 1952 the Council received permission to act as the official
agency for this program. It was named "Youth For Understanding."
Then as now, family and community living were at the center
of the YFU international learning experience. Andresen served
the program as Executive Director for over 20 years until
she retired in 1973.
The selection and financing of the German students who came
to Michigan during the early 1950s was made possible through
funds from the US government. In those years, the role of
YFU was that of home placement and supervision. The organization's
offices were moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, a university town
located about 45 miles west of Detroit. In 1956, the US government
funding was discontinued, but some transitional funds were
made available as the US Department of State encouraged YFU
to continue its work on a private basis.
In 1955, the first American teenagers went to Europe for ten
weeks during summer vacation. These students were placed in
European families with the assistance of returned exchange
students and their parents.
These initial exchanges, which grew out of an effort to heal
the wounds of World War II, established the family living
experience and provided the impetus for YFU expansion to other
parts of the world. In the mid-fifties, the program grew to
include Scandinavia, and later to western and central Europe.
Youth For Understanding bridged the Pacific in 1958 when the
first students came from Japan. The Pacific program now also
includes Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam,
and China.
Youth For Understanding was introduced to Latin America in
1958, beginning with Mexico; South American countries opened
their doors to YFU in 1959.
As the program increased in size, particularly with the addition
of the South American programs, it became clear that incorporation
as a non-profit educational organization was necessary. This
status was achieved in 1964. As organizational relationships
with international corporations and groups were forged over
the years, YFU was determined to strengthen its national and
international ties by relocating. The International Center
moved from Ann Arbor, MI to Washington, DC in 1978.
Today, Youth For Understanding is one of the world's oldest,
largest, and most respected international exchange programs.
Since 1951, YFU offices around the world have exchanged approximately
200,000 students. In one year alone, approximately 6,000 students
will participate in our programs worldwide. Through the exchange
experience, YFU students gain skills and perspectives necessary
to meet the challenges and benefit from the opportunities
the fast-changing global community has to offer.
YFU USA conducts exchanges with more than 50 countries around
the world. Each exchange is coordinated by a worldwide network
of national YFU organizations all dedicated to providing the
highest quality international educational experience for exchange
students and their host families. With nearly 2,500 volunteers
in communities across the United States, YFU USA is fully
equipped to support every student and host family. Supporting
our volunteers are five professionally staffed district offices
and our national office in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area. YFU USA receives scholarship support from the Japanese
and Finnish governments and from numerous corporations and
private donors.
YFU USA has been accepted for listing for 2004-2005 by the
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
(CSIET). The mission of CSIET is to identify reputable international
youth exchange programs so that youth are provided with meaningful
and safe international exchange experiences.
