Youth For Understanding (YFU)

1929 Pine Run Drive
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017

Phone: 636-812-2338

Mission:
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a nonprofit founded in 1951 on the idea that giving young people the opportunity to live in another country would increase their understanding and respect for people of other cultures. The first YFU students were German youths chosen by the US Army of Occupation who lived with families in Michigan. Since that time YFU has expanded to serve more than sixty countries and has sent over 250,000 young people abroad.

YFU offers more scholarships to St. Louis high school students than any other exchange organization. This includes fifty full scholarships to Germany for the year and 200 scholarships to Japan for the summer. There are scholarships to places like Vietnam and Finland, and other scholarships that allow American students to choose the country.



Description:
The Adventure of a Lifetime
YFU offers young people the adventure of a lifetime — the opportunity to explore other countries and cultures, master new languages, and discover themselves. We seek to transform young people by instilling passion for life-long learning, and the skills and knowledge to thrive and contribute amidst cultural diversity. To achieve these significant educational aims, we provide young people between the ages of 15 and 22 a variety of intensive exchange opportunities. Young enough to fully adjust to a new country and culture, yet old enough to reflect and integrate their experiences, our participants reap the rewards of host family and community life. We believe that this full immersion is the most effective means of international education, which will be increasingly relevant for generations to come.

Volunteers, alumni, and staff share ownership and responsibility for leadership; research, development, and delivery of program offerings; and quality assurance. Through formal international structures and informal interactions, we model cross-cultural skills, international understanding, and mutual respect.

YFU works to create increasing interest and enthusiasm for international learning through exchange programs. Thus we challenge ourselves to shape the attitudes of those with whom we engage. Strategic alliances; focused marketing and communications; and effective utilization of technology are key to increasing and diversifying exchange participation.

Sustained, active engagement by YFU alumni is an essential element of our success and a measure of the life-long impact of our programs.

Focus Areas:
International, Children & Youth, Community, Education & Literacy, Race & Ethnicity, Veterans & Military Families, Women

Website: http://yfu-usa.org Current Volunteer Opportunities: 2 Listings