Hello, friends of YFU Canada!

This blog will be replacing the general newsletter and will serve as a way to let volunteers, alumni, students, family and friends what's going on with YFU Canada.

Youth For Understanding (YFU) is one of the oldest, largest and most widely respected non-profit international student exchange organizations in the world.

In 1951, 75 German teenagers from Germany and Austria were selected by the Army of the Occupation to come to live in the United States with American families for one year under the auspices of the US Department of State. The students were between 15 and 18 years old and, as it later became apparent, it was exactly this age group which seemed to be most able to naturally participate and adjust to the lifestyles and values of a foreign family and community.

Dr. Rachel Andresen, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw Council of Churches, educator, and social worker, was asked to lend her assistance and helped place these first students in American homes on a voluntary basis. In 1952 the Council of Churches received permission to act as the official agency for this program. It was named "Youth For Understanding." Then, as now, family and community living were at the center of the YFU international learning experience. 

These initial exchanges, which grew out of an effort to heal the wounds of World War II, established the family living experience and provided the impetus for YFU expansion to other parts of the world. In the mid-fifties, the program grew to include Scandinavia, and later to western and central Europe. Youth For Understanding bridged the Pacific in 1958 when the first students came from Japan. The Pacific program now also includes Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.

Youth For Understanding was introduced to Latin America in 1958, beginning with Mexico; South American countries opened their doors to YFU in 1959.

As the program increased in size, it became clear that incorporation as a non-profit educational organization was necessary. This status was achieved in 1964. Today, Youth For Understanding is one of the world's oldest, largest, and most respected international exchange programs. Since its inception in 1951, YFU offices around the world have exchanged over 240,000 students. 

So join us on our journey and learn about being a YFU Canada exchange student or volunteer, or welcome a student into your home! Remember, it's no secret that the world is out there. Experience it, with Youth for Understanding.