The Light - An Alumni Publication Winter 2014/2015 | Page 35
A Letter from the Editor
LESSONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME
I hope the New Year is treating you well! If the inspiring stories within this edition of
The Light weren’t enough, maybe some of the quotes below will do the trick.
Below are a small selection of the hundreds of comments we received from our year-end
annual fund appeal. If you feel the same way about your experience with YFU and would like to invest in
the future of intercultural exchange, you may do so here.
“I work for the UN Secretary General on climate change. My first international exposure was due to
YFU summer abroad. It changed my life!” — Cynthia Scharf, Switzerland, 1978
“My stay in Finland in 1969 was an important part of my life. I was enlightened reading about Rabia
from Pakistan – it blew away any misconceptions I had about young women’s opportunities from
there.” — Jerianne Block, Finland, 1969
“My life has been so enriched and changed forever due to my hosting experiences. I don’t have
children of my own, but have three wonderful German daughters! YFU is a wonderful program!”
— Bonnie Guinn, host mother
“My summer exchange program taught me a lot about how much we have in common with each other,
no matter what country we’re from or what our political beliefs are.” — Jamie Wilson, Netherlands,
1982
“Living and traveling with YFU and since then has given me a more valuable education than anything
else! As Mark Twain wrote ‘travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness…’” — Pam
Ogletree Dumonceau, Germany, 1979
These are just a few of many words of inspiration from our alumni. We hope you share your story, too!
Finally, recent events remind us of how important it is to learn about other
cultures beyond what we see on TV and over the internet. Thank you
for helping YFU be a catalyst for change.
Sincerely,
John Favazzo
Director of Alumni Engagement
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