75 Years of Home

75 Years of Making the World your Home. 75 Years of Inviting the World into your Home.

Since 75 years, YFU is bringing together people across cultures, creating connections that last a lifetime. YFU’s mission remains as meaningful and necessary as ever: In a world that can feel divided, exchange experiences continue to inspire understanding, dialogue, and positive change.

How did it all begin?

It all started in 1951 with a simple but powerful goal: to help people reconnect across borders and rebuild trust after years of conflict. 75 young Germans were invited to the US to live with a volunteer host family and attend high school for a year. The hope was that the students would return home inspired to help rebuild Germany as a democracy, shaped by what they had seen, learned, and experienced in the US. Dr. Rachel Andresen brought this vision to life, founding YFU and shaping it into the global community it is today.

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WhY DOES IT still matter?

People who develop a deep intercultural understanding through lived experiences of cultural difference, whether as exchange students or host families, gain a broader perspective on the world. They come to appreciate the necessity of cooperation, see democratic societies as inherently pluralistic, and support institutions that bridge differences rather than exploit them. In an increasingly fragmented landscape, this mindset serves as an important counterbalance to forces pulling societies apart. Because the world needs understanding today as much as it did back in 1951.

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YFU BY THE NUMBERS

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF YFU
This year, we celebrate the people, milestones, and moments that have shaped YFU over the past 75 years. Generations of young people brave enough to make the world their home. Generations of host families generous enough to invite the world into their home. And generations of volunteers and staff dedicated enough to make transformational exchanges happen every day. From the very first exchange programs to today’s global network, our history shows that the power of human connection builds bridges across divides and empowers individuals to contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world.

STORY HUB

Every YFU exchange is shaped by meaningful moments, each with a story to tell. Here, we celebrate the voices of students, host families, and volunteers from around the world, the people who bring YFU to life.

A family that keeps saying “yes” to the world
Marika
A student story: An adventure across the ocean
Lisa
A VOLUNTEER STORY: Double the YFU Spirit
Ines and Björn
A STUDENT STORY: Make sure you are on the right bus!
Megan
A STUDENT STORY: "Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!"
Maricruz
A STUDENT STORY: The beginning of an extraordinary life
Carolina

REFLECTIONS FROM WITHIN YFU

THOUGHTS FROM OUR GENERAL SECRETARY

As we commemorate Rachel Andresen’s birthday on 8 April and celebrate YFU’s 75th anniversary, our general secretary, Gregory Matheson, reflects on the enduring role of international educational exchange in fostering peace and strengthening democracy. More than a concept, democracy is learned through lived experience, when young people, families, and communities come together across cultures, building understanding, trust, and connections that transcend borders and outlast political divides.

Read his full message here.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL BOARD MEMBER FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Hans Strijdom looks back on more than 40 years in international exchange, beginning with his formative experience as a 15-year-old exchange student in Hamburg in 1984. He shares how the experience shaped his understanding of the world and influenced his lifelong commitment to intercultural learning. Addressing YFU’s leadership, he highlights the organization’s continued relevance and encourages it to remain bold, resilient, and true to its mission of fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Read his full message here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

HOST FAMILY OF THE MONTH: BEA AND ANNIKA

Some exchange stories don't end when the program is over but inspire new ones. Ever since her own exchange experience, Bea had dreamed of one day opening her home to a student. This year, together with her partner Annika, that dream became reality as they welcomed an exchange student into their family. What followed was a year of soccer games, shared traditions, and a bond so natural that their student chose to stay for a full year instead of a single semester.

Read the full story here.

PREVIOUS VOLUNTEERS AND HOST FAMILIES OF THE MONTH

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

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