Keynote to YFU leadership

by Hans Strijdom

The more things change, the more they remain the same

My first point of reflection is this: “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” You may wonder how this relates to my lecture today. Let me explain.

As we all know, the world at present—geopolitically and otherwise—feels deeply unsettled. We are witnessing growing cultural, political, and religious divisions, not only between countries, but within them. Conflict is escalating, and new forms of old patterns—imperialism, rivalry, ideological confrontation—seem to be re-emerging.

Let us turn the clock back to 1984, the year I left Cape Town for Hamburg as an exchange student and have a look at the major geopolitical threats. At that time:

• The Cold War defined global politics, with deep divisions between East and West
• Proxy wars raged across multiple regions; The Iran–Iraq War entered a brutal phase with attacks on oil shipping in the Persian Gulf, threatening global energy supplies
• Terrorism and political violence were prominent
• Humanitarian crises, such as famine in Ethiopia, shocked the world
• South Africa was still in the grip of Apartheid, which destabilized the entire Southern African region (we will return to this topic a bit later)

If we listen carefully, the echoes are unmistakable: division, escalating rhetoric, regional instability, threats to global energy supplies, global tension. I think we all agree that these geopolitical themes that dominated the year 1984 sound exceptionally familiar today! So, what does this mean for us—for YFU? It tells us that our mission remains not only relevant, but essential—perhaps now more than ever. Our work is far from done. But, just because world history keeps on repeating itself, does it mean YFU should follow suit and effectively remain the same? This leads me to a personal conviction: If we want to remain relevant, we must evolve. We must diversify—intentionally and boldly:
• In who participates in our programs
• And where we operate in the world

Of course, YFU cannot change the world alone. But we can be even more impactful and relevant, guided by our mission, and in so doing challenge the “the more things change, the more they remain the same” phenomenon.

So my message to current and future leadership is simple: Be bold. Be intentional. And be willing to diversify.

Be yourself

Let me now return to 1984—but this time, on a more personal level.

South Africa at the time was in the grip of Apartheid, facing growing internal resistance and increasing global isolation. Cultural and educational boycotts made international exchange extremely difficult. Yet, through a small, family-run organisation in Cape Town, I was given an opportunity.  And so, a 15-year-old white South African arrived in Hamburg on a cold October day, at a time when his country was widely seen as a global pariah. My host family was wonderful. But school was… more complicated. My peers at school were politically aware, engaged, and often critical—especially of Apartheid. To them, I represented something deeply problematic: a white South African of Afrikaner heritage, shaped by a system they strongly abhorred.

I was a politically naïve 15-year-old who just wanted to have an adventure. I still remember a piece of graffiti that appeared on one of the school walls shortly after my arrival:
“Raus mit dem Buren” — “Out with the Boer” or “Get the Boer out of here!” For those not familiar with the term “Boer”, it is Dutch or Afrikaans for “farmer”, an occupation traditionally associated with the early Dutch settlers in South Africa. However, it later became a derogatory term in some circles when referring to white South Africans of Afrikaans heritage. It was unsettling. I struggled—with the language, with belonging, and with understanding my place in that environment.

Just as I began to question whether it had all been worth it, a turning point came. My class teacher—ironically, someone whose political views were leftwing and differed greatly from the world I came from—showed me kindness and compassion. And he shared with me a simple, yet profound lesson: “Be yourself.”

At first, this seemed almost too simple. But over time, it changed everything. I stopped trying to hide or deny where I came from. Instead, I began to engage with it — honestly and critically. That shift allowed me to have real conversations with my German peers, to listen, to learn, and ultimately to grow. I learnt more about my country and Apartheid during my exchange period than during the preceding 15 years of my life. I continued living the motto of Being Myself, in my post-exchange YFU life, which allowed me to grow, learn even more about myself and the country I was born in, and much later become a leader of our organisation.

I returned home a different person in 1985 — more aware, more questioning, and, some might say, a little rebellious. And that brings me to my second reflection: Be yourself. Authenticity is not always easy—but it is powerful. In YFU, I have always felt that authenticity is not only accepted but encouraged. It is part of who we are. If we truly embrace this—if we continue to create spaces where people from all backgrounds can show up as they are—then we create the conditions for real understanding and real change. My own experience stands as proof of that.

Resilience

My final reflection is about resilience.

If there is one defining characteristic of YFU, in my experience, it is this: resilience is in our DNA. When we are tested—when circumstances are at their most difficult—we find ways to come together and make tough decisions.

I am proud to have been part of the team that steered the YFU ship through the rough oceans of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I deeply respect and acknowledge my colleagues who helped us carry the organisation through that period.

It was resilience in action. Yes, sadly, there were losses. But there was also survival—and now, signs of renewal. And, if I may return one last time to the 1980s and borrow a line from a song that featured on the charts around 1985-1986: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

My reflections in a nutshell

First: The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Our mission remains vital—but to stay relevant, we must be bold, adapt, and diversify. Let us not allow YFU to merely fall in the slipstream of history that keeps on repeating itself. Let us try harder to make a difference. We must diversify our programs, both in terms of participants and non-traditional regions – even in the geopolitical hotspots.

Second: Be yourself.

Let’s continue championing and celebrating authenticity and being ourselves. Authenticity builds bridges and breaks down barriers in ways few other things can.

And third: Be resilient.

Our strength lies in our ability to face challenges together—even when the path forward is difficult. Let us celebrate those in our organization who are willing to make the tough decisions, even if they are unpopular at times.

Thank you once again for this opportunity and thank you for listening.