Volunteering Together, Growing Together
When Leah returned from her exchange year in Michigan, she didn't just bring home new memories and experiences. She brought home a passion that soon became a family tradition. Inspired by Leah's journey, her mother Ruth decided to become involved with YFU herself. Since then, the two have volunteered together, hosted students from around the world, and turned intercultural exchange into a shared family adventure.
For Leah, her year abroad in 2012–13 was a chance to step outside her comfort zone. Living in another culture encouraged her to question familiar routines, see life from different perspectives, and reflect on what she wanted to take with her into the future.
But the exchange didn’t just change Leah. It transformed her family.
Her mother, Ruth, recalls meeting Leah’s American host father during the exchange and being struck by how he viewed their everyday family life. What seemed ordinary to them suddenly appeared unique through someone else’s eyes. That experience sparked a simple question: Why not open our own home to an exchange student?
That one decision became the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Over the years, the family hosted 16 exchange students from around the world. As Ruth puts it, it changed their lives completely, helping them see the world through new perspectives and enriching everyday life in ways they never expected.
Their involvement with YFU soon grew beyond hosting. Mother and daughter began volunteering together, organizing orientation and language courses for incoming students in their hometown. What started with just a few courses quickly expanded, but the greatest reward was something else: volunteering gave them a shared passion.
While many parents and teenagers naturally grow apart as interests change, YFU brought them closer together. Working side by side strengthened their relationship and gave them a common purpose that continues to this day.
Their different generations also became one of their greatest strengths. Leah brought the perspective of a former exchange student, while Ruth understood the experiences of host families. They also learned from one another in everyday life, from environmental awareness to changing social values, proving that cultural exchange doesn't only happen across borders but it happens across generations too.
Many of the students they hosted remain part of their lives today. Some stay connected through regular online calls, while others return to visit years later. For the family, these relationships have never been limited to a single exchange year but have become lifelong friendships that continue to grow across continents.
Looking back, both Leah and Ruth share the same advice: don't be afraid to take the opportunity. An exchange year—or hosting a student—isn't always easy, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
As Leah says, life can almost be divided into two chapters: before exchange and after exchange. Stepping outside your comfort zone opens doors to experiences, perspectives, and relationships that simply can't be found by staying in the same place. And for her family, one exchange year became the start of a lifelong journey of welcoming the world into their home.