Youth For Understanding is a global not-for-profit community based on volunteerism and driven by the passion of people, made up of more than 55 member organizations on six continents. As a leader in cross-cultural exchange and education programs for over 70 years, YFU has impacted over 270,000 students - and their host families, schools and networks - and over 70,000 volunteers.
John Eberly, realized that the problems prevailing in post-war Germany had a devastating effect on the country's youth, plunging them into a cycle of bitterness, hopelessness and despair. He proposed to local church leaders that they create a youth exchange program that would bring German students to the United States to live with families and attend high school for a year. His vision and hope was that this exchange experience would motivate the students to return to Germany and rebuild their country into a democracy based on what they had observed while in the United States. This vision was handed down and realized by Dr. Rachel Andresen, who founded YFU and served as its longtime executive director. Her hard work and determination were recognized in 1964 when the YFU was granted non-profit educational organization status, and then again in 1973 when she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in international youth exchange.
These first exchanges introduced the experience of family life and opened the door for YFU to expand to other parts of the world. In the mid-1950s, the program expanded to include Scandinavia and later spread to Western and Central Europe. In 1958, YFU crossed the Pacific when students from Japan arrived for the first time. Currently, the Pacific program is offered by a number of countries, such as the Philippines, China and Australia. In 1958, YFU was introduced to Latin America, starting with Mexico, followed a year later by South American countries. However, Eastern Europe joined the program in 1989, followed by Africa in 1994 when South Africa joined the YFU. Currently, YFU's relationships include more than 55 countries, having served more than 260,000 exchange students. As we continue to grow and reach out to other countries, students and families, we hold fast to the legacy of Dr. Rachel Andresen, who believed in connecting the whole world through youth.