Youth For Understanding

Your exchange didn’t just change where you’ve lived, it changed how you see the world 🌍

How many of these experiences have made you a global citizen? ✔️

Share your score & tag a fellow alum 👇

🌍 1953: a transatlantic ship journey, weeks of travel, and a leap into the unknown.

Lisa Störiko joined one of the earliest post-war exchange programs between Germany and the United States. What she discovered went far beyond a school year abroad, and it shaped how she saw people, perspectives, and herself.

Decades later, she still describes the experience as a turning point in her life.

Read the full story here 👇
https://yfu.org/story/narrative-1779181870

Why does international exchange matter? Because it builds understanding, creates opportunity, and strengthens the foundations of peace.

That is why YFU is proud to join Made Impact as a founding partner.

Made Impact is a groundbreaking global initiative bringing the international exchange field together to better demonstrate and strengthen its impact - through stories, research, and advocacy. The goal is to show more clearly what exchange delivers not only for individuals, but for societies as a whole.

Key initiatives include:

🌍 The Million Stories Initiative, building the world’s largest archive of exchange experiences.
🎥 The World Storyteller Project, equipping young people to capture and share the lived impact of exchange.
📊 Research and advocacy to ensure exchange is recognized as a global priority.
📣 The International Exchange & Education Summit to unify the sector and spread the word.

The ambition is bold: to build the case for a future Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the field of international exchange and education.

For YFU, this is a natural fit. Since 1951, education for peace through intercultural exchange has been at the core of our mission. With 75 years of experience and a global network spanning nearly 50 countries across six continents, we are proud to help shape this movement from the start.

Learn more and get involved: https://advocacy.yfu.org/yfu-made-impact

✨ Then and now ✨

Every YFU journey is unique, but something tends to unfold along the way.

A shift in perspective.
A broader view of the world.

Lifelong bonds.
New options ahead.

And that stays with you 💜

A big thank you to our amazing alumni for sharing your photos with us and for keeping YFU in your hearts.

On this International Day of Families, we celebrate those who open their homes to the world 🌟

This month, we want to highlight the Lobosok family YFU Eesti .

A big heart, always a helping hand, and stories that keep adding.

With five children of their own and seven exchange students over the years, their home has become a place where cultures meet, and connections last.

Thank you for everything you bring to YFU!

Read the full story on the link below 👇
https://yfu.org/host-family-of-the-month-the-lobosok-family

Today, we celebrate all the mothers who make it possible to feel at home, no matter where you are 💜

At YFU, mothers are part of every exchange story.

The ones who let go, trusting the journey ahead.

And the ones who welcome in someone new, making space at the dinner table and in their hearts.

In different places, speaking different languages, they share something powerful: the ability to make someone feel supported, seen, and at home 🏠.

Today, we say THANK YOU to all mothers everywhere 💐 Want to share your appreciation? Send a virtual thank-you card here: https://yfu.org/thank-you.

Today is Europe Day 🇪🇺 - a reminder that cooperation across borders isn’t a given, it’s a choice. One that countries in Europe made after a difficult history because they believed that it would be the most promising way to secure lasting peace and prosperity.

At YFU, we are also convinced that we are stronger together – because we choose to be. That’s why we’re a network of nearly 50 organizations across six continents, working together across different cultures and perspectives 🤝

In a world that’s increasingly divided, the need for bridge-builders is growing. People who listen, find common ground, and approach challenges with curiosity instead of division. These are exactly the qualities a YFU exchange helps nurture 💜

Going on exchange is a big step, and no one goes through it alone 🤝 .

Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that support matters at every stage of that journey.

Our internal guidelines and policies ensure that mental health is considered across the entire exchange experience.

At YFU, students are not only prepared before they leave, but are also supported during their time abroad by trained program coordinators and structured support systems. This approach allows for earlier identification of challenges, more effective support, and stronger adjustment outcomes.

🌟 Behind every exchange experience is a thoughtful framework designed to protect student wellbeing.


The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET)

Volunteer of the Month: Elina Torma ✨

Elina’s YFU journey spans three continents. What started as a personal exchange experience in Japan with YFU Hungary - Nemzetközi Diákcsere Szervezet later grew into a long-term commitment to YFU as a volunteer across several member organizations. Since 2021, she has been supportingYFU España, while also contributing to international projects like the YFU YES.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience gradually became something much more lasting: a deep connection to a global mission that continues to shape her path to this day.

Her journey reflects something very special about YFU: that exchange does not end when the year abroad is over. For many, it marks the beginning of a lifelong bond to people, shared values, and a global community.

Thank you, Elina 💜

Read the full story here 👉https://yfu.org/volunteer-of-the-month-elina-torma

🤝 International Workers’ Day

Today, we celebrate the people who make YFU possible.

Across the world, our staff, volunteers and host families bring dedication, care, and commitment to every exchange experience. Their time and energy help to connect people, one experience at a time 🌍.

At YFU, the wellbeing of our people matters - not just today, but every day.

Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is deeply embedded in everything we do. We strive to ensure that our global network of staff and volunteers thrives in a culture rooted in respect, equity, and ethical conduct, guided by our Social Responsibility Policy and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Because global impact starts with our people 💜

Read more about our commitment to sustainable development here: https://advocacy.yfu.org/sustainability