Global Media Committee - Share your YFU story with us!

Hello everyone! My name is Dagne, and I originally hail from Lithuania. However, for the past three years, I've been calling the Netherlands home, and currently, I'm backpacking around South America. My journey toward exploring different cultures began in 2017 when I embarked on an exchange program to Denmark. The experience opened my eyes to a world of opportunities, inspiring me to actively engage in volunteer work upon my return. Back in Lithuania, I became an active volunteer for YFU Lithuania and YFU YES. These experiences fueled my passion for psychology, leading me to spend the last three years studying the subject with a focus on cultural psychology, intergroup relationships, and discrimination. I firmly believe that participating in an exchange at the age of 17 is an immensely valuable experience, despite its inevitable challenges. It offers a unique opportunity to explore a new country, gain deeper insights into oneself, and foster cultural awareness. This conviction led me to see the broader impact of exchange experiences, not only in personal development but also in combating prejudice, discrimination, and promoting cultural understanding. Motivated by this belief, I joined GMC with the goal of spreading the word about YFU and its mission to make the world a more tolerant place. I am enthusiastic about contributing to the cause and sharing the transformative power of exchange experiences.

My name is Sam. I am from France but I currently live in the Netherlands where I do my Erasmus+ exchange for the last year of my bachelor degree. I went on exchange twice with YFU: I did a summer program in Australia in 2016 and then a year in Argentina in 2018/2019. I've been a volunteer since 2016 and had the chance to help in so many ways, both nationaly and internationaly. I even did an internship in the office of YFU Poland during the summer of 2022. I am very happy to be part of the GMC and hope to continue sharing people stories

Hi! I'm Taru, originally from Finland but currently based in Brussels where I'm doing my European Solidarity Corps volunteer project at the YFU Global Office. My project is all about communication and advocacy, and one of the most exciting things during this year is for sure gathering together this amazing Media Committee team and working together on creating content for the whole YFU community! My path in YFU started back in 2014 when I went on exchange to Germany. After that I have volunteered in YFU Finland. I hope that through the important work of this committee we get to elevate the YFU Spirit and engage with the whole community, and give everyone a chance to share their YFU stories!