YFU Exchange stories
stories

In 2021 Youth For Understanding (YFU) celebrated its 70th anniversary. YFU started as a volunteer initiative created by Rachel Andresen and John Eberly to give adolescents a new perspective of peace and the prospect of a brighter world. With the goal of repairing relationships damaged during World War II, the first group of students left Germany to go on their exchange to the United States 70 years ago. This was the beginning of YFU, and since then, more than 270,000 students have gone on exchange with YFU, opening minds for a better world.

For each student, host family, and volunteer, the YFU intercultural exchange has opened a new chapter in their lives. This involvement has allowed them to experience first-hand the beauty of diversity and embrace it with empathy and understanding. It has been a new chapter that welcomed new experiences, amusing moments, lifelong friendships, cultural learnings, and people coming into their own individuality in the world around them. YFU is made up of each of these individual experiences!

The virtual storybook is a humble attempt to grasp the impact that YFU has had on individual lives for more than 70 years.

Thank you for your stories!

To open the Virtual storybook use "fullscreen" mode in the bottom right corner. 

Share the Storybook with fellow YFUers or print it for your home library! 

DOWNLOAD THE VIRTUAL STORYBOOK HERE

YFU FRIENDSHIP STORIES

Making Friends Through YFU
“You saved my life.” I was surprised and happy when Rick said this to me. We were talking about how we became friends through hosting with YFU.
Jul 25, 2021 22:53
30th anniversary of this relationship
With my host sister, Ulrike, we have developed a deep bond that we have enriched through the years.
Jul 25, 2021 22:48
The best support abroad
Until I figured out that there are 14 more exchange students in the school! We were too lucky to find each other because each of us was outgoing.
Jul 22, 2021 23:12
First awkward moment to friendship
However, something was clearly wrong because I was hugging and she was not hugging me back and did not even react to me.
Jul 22, 2021 23:11
My YFU best friend was the love of my life?
This story begins the way it ends: good (or not so good?)
Jul 22, 2021 23:11
Travel buddies: Ayaka and Santiago
To her and my surprise, when she arrived, she saw me there as well, in the same club. It was so funny that we were doing the same exact thing without even planning it.
Jul 22, 2021 17:54
Roadtrip for a life
We kept crossing paths because both of us became very active as volunteers
Jul 22, 2021 17:54
Three musketeers
At the time I was really shy, didn’t wanted to take part in anything and just wanted to stay on my bed and read a book.
Jul 22, 2021 17:54

VIRTUAL STORYBOOK

The YES 2024 Report is out!
YES is the biggest annual, global event in YFU. Find out the highlights of this year's seminar and see the impact we reached.
Aug 27, 2024 16:05
"I’m a YFUer, of course I vote!"
What starts with a single person, over time, influences nations: our commitment to fostering active citizenship
Apr 05, 2024 13:47
YFU 2023 Annual Report is out!
Take a look at the key events and achievements in YFU in 2023.
Feb 19, 2024 16:49
Meet Maria Fe, the newly elected Chair of YFU International!
We had the chance to reflect on the past year in YFU with Maria Fe, who was elected Chair of YFU's International Board in late 2023.
Feb 07, 2024 14:50
The YES 2023 Report is out!
Find out more about the new learning experience: the social hackathon!
Dec 28, 2023 16:23
YFU National Directors' and International Board Meetings 2023
Charting the Path Ahead
Dec 11, 2023 11:16
YFU Statement on the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
A message of Solidarity
Feb 08, 2023 14:29
Report on the 2022 Youth Empowerment Seminar is out
Find out what were the highlights of this year's YES!
Aug 10, 2022 15:11
YFU Statement on the Conflict in Ukraine
We are deeply saddened about the conflict arising between Russia and Ukraine, and we stand in solidarity with the millions of citizens affected by these dark days.
Feb 25, 2022 12:34
Recap of 2021: a community feeling across the world
2021 is drawing to a close and with it the 70th anniversary of our worldwide network. It goes without saying that YFU has, like everything else in the world, been swept along by the tumultuous events of the past 12 months.
Dec 18, 2021 00:16
Donate for YFU USA cause
YFU USA expresses Thank you and invites to continue to donate for scholarships and organisation operations
Dec 18, 2021 00:16
Volunteering: A Core Value of a YFU Global Citizen
Long-term host father Stephen Rutherford from the US will share tips and tricks on how to enrich the exchange experience for students and host families through volunteering.
Dec 17, 2021 23:52
YFU France celebrate with multiple gatherings
In October, YFU France invited their regional coordinators and employees to meet in the National Office and celebrate 70 years of YFU.
Dec 17, 2021 23:52
War & Peace: The Intangible Effects of being a YFUer
For a long time, I’ve focused a lot of my education and free time on Armenian studies and activism. One day during this last war, I received an Instagram message from a volunteer from YFU Azerbaijan,
Dec 17, 2021 23:52
How my YFU experience has influenced my career
This sense of confidence propelled me to join the debating circuit in my university years. Debating then shaped my critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Dec 17, 2021 23:51
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