Youth For Understanding
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a non-profit organisation which organizes high school and other exchanges between countries all over the world. Its goal is to enhance an understanding of the host country's culture as well as giving the host family a glance at the exchange student's culture, thus promoting tolerance and peaceful global cooperation.[1]
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[edit] History
Youth For Understanding was established in 1951 in the Detroit area, in Michigan, and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1956. In its early years, the agency brought students from post-war Germany to live in the United States to experience the USA, and by 1955, the agency sent high school students from the USA on ten-week trips to Germany. The first trips across the Pacific and to Mexico were established in 1958, and South America in 1959. YFU, Inc., the non-profit educational organization, was established in 1964, and the agency's offices were moved to Washington, D.C. in 1978.[2]
During most of the 1990s, YFU, Inc. served as the primary administrative organization for applications and interviews in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship program, overseen by the now defunct United States Information Agency (USIA). With the dissolution of the USIA towards the end of 1999, the CBYX scholarship program began to be reorganized on a regional basis, and YFU ceased its central administrative control.
By the start of the 2000s, a financial crisis forced YFU, Inc. into bankruptcy. The agency's offices were moved to Bethesda, Maryland, in 2002 and the agency was reorganized as YFU USA Inc. Ulrich Zahlten, founder and former chair of YFU in Germany became the new Chairman of the board of YFU USA. After YFU, Inc. declared bankruptcy, it was entirely removed from the CBYX program due to its reorganization. The reorganization also reversed the agency's misfortunes — the annual report for 2005 reports four consecutive years of budget surpluses.
YFU USA currently has 5 District offices (Cambridge, Massachusetts; Azle, Texas; Bridgeport, Michigan; Des Moines, Iowa; and Seattle, Washington). YFU remains a volunteer-based organization as YFU USA has 1,200 active volunteers. There is also an active US Alumni Association, headed by an elected National Alumni Council.[3][4]
[edit] Current programs
Each year YFU arranges the exchanges of more than 2500 high-school students between over 50 nations. YFU offers a diverse range of educational opportunities for students, families, volunteers and schools. All YFU programs center on the family living experience.
The YFU USA American Overseas Program provides opportunities for United States high school students to live with a host family and study abroad for a year, semester or summer. Each year, YFU USA awards over 3500 full and partial scholarships.
The YFU USA International Student Program offers American families the opportunity to host an exchange student. In 2006 YFU welcomed more than 2000 students from over 50 countries.
The YFU USA Community College Program brings the host family experience to young adults and is present on the campuses of fifteen community colleges across the United States.
[edit] YFU Offices Around the World
[edit] Africa
- Ghana: YFU Ghana
- South Africa: YFU South Africa
[edit] Asia
- Azerbaijan: YFU is affiliated with Aki-Inter in Azerbaijan
- China: YFU Greater China
- Georgia: YFU Georgia
- India: YFU India
- Indonesia: YFU is affiliated with Gaido Educational Programs and Advisory
- Japan: YFU Japan Foundation Inc.
- Kazakhstan: YFU Kazakhstan
- Korea: YFU Korea
- Mongolia: YFU is mentoring a potential new partner in Mongolia
- Philippines: YFU Philippines
- Thailand: YFU Thailand/Learning International Company Ltd.
- Vietnam: YFU Vietnam/Virginia Education Services
[edit] Oceania
- Australia: YFU Australia Limited
- New Zealand: YFU programs in New Zealand are being mentored through its organization in Australia
[edit] Europe
- Austria: YFU AUSTRIA
- Belarus: YFU Belarus
- Belgium: YFU Vlaanderen VZW and YFU Bruxelles-Wallonie
- Bulgaria: YFU Bulgaria
- Czech Republic: YFU Czech Republic
- Denmark: YFU Danmark
- Estonia: YFU Eesti
- Finland: Suomen YFU ry
- France: YFU France Echanges Internationaux
- Germany: Deutsches YFU Komitee e.V.
- Greece: YFU Greece
- Hungary: YFU Hungary
- Ireland: YFU is affiliated with EIL in Ireland
- Italy: YFU is affiliated with Free Culture in Italy
- Latvia: YFU Latvija
- Lithuania: YFU Lietuva
- Moldova: YFU Moldova
- Netherlands: YFU Netherlands
- Norway: YFU Norge
- Poland: YFU Poland
- Romania: YFU Romania
- Russia: YFU Russia
- Slovakia: YFU Slovensko, n.o.
- Spain: YFU is affiliated with ITEA and Homestay-Spain in Spain
- Sweden: YFU Sweden
- Switzerland: YFU Switzerland
- Ukraine: YFU Ukraine
- United Kingdom: YFU UK
[edit] North America
- Canada: YFU Canada
- Mexico: YFU de Mexico
- USA: YFU USA
[edit] South America
- Argentina: YFU Argentina
- Brazil: YFU Brasil
- Chile: YFU Chile
- Colombia: YFU Colombia
- Ecuador: YFU Ecuador
- Paraguay: YFU Paraguay
- Uruguay: YFU Uruguay
- Venezuela: YFU Venezuela
[edit] References
- ^ YFU International Alumni and Volunteer Home Page
- ^ YFU USA history page from yfu-usa.org, discussing the agency's early history from 1951-1978
- ^ YFU US Alumni Association page
- ^ National Alumni Council page
