Youth For Understanding USA

Mission: To advance intercultural understanding, life-long learning, global competencies, mutual respect, and social responsibility through transformational educational exchanges for generations of youth, families, and communities, supported by dedicated volunteers and professional staff.

The global YFU network, consisting of partners in more than 50 different countries, is united by the belief that full cultural immersion is the most effective means to gain the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly multicultural, interconnected and competitive global society. YFU has remained a trusted leader of intercultural exchange programs for more than 60 years because of its commitment to safety, reputation for quality, and exceptional support services.

Youth For Understanding, or YFU is a non-profit student exchange organization. We have over 1,000 students come to the US every year to study and live with a vetted host family. All host families are volunteer, and the backbone of our organization are those that host, and the volunteers that support our students.