YFU Handbooks 2015 Family Handbook (Study Abroad) | Page 30

APPENDIX II: YFU'S HISTORY

YFU’s global history began very humbly in the United States
in 1951 when 75 teenagers from Germany were selected by
the Army of the Occupation to live in the United States with
American families for one year under the auspices of the
US Department of State. The hope was that they would be
motivated to go back to Germany and rebuild a new country
– a new democracy – according to what they had observed
while living in the United States.
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
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. Dr. Andresen
served the program as Executive Director for over 20 years
until she retired in 1973.
The selection and financing of the German students
who came to Michigan during the early 1950’s was made
possible through funds from the US government. In those
years, the role of YFU was that of home placement and
supervision. The organization's offices were moved to Ann
Arbor, Michigan, a university town located about 45 miles
west of Detroit. In 1956, the US government funding was
discontinued, but some transitional funds were made
available as the US Department of State encouraged YFU to
continue its work on a private basis.
In 1955, the first American teenagers went to Europe for
ten weeks during summer vacation. These students were

30 - Study Abroad Family Handbook

placed in European families with the assistance of returned
exchange students and their parents.
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, particularly with the
addition of the South American programs, it became clear
that incorporation as a non-profit educational organization
was necessary. This status was achieved in 1964. As
organizational relationships with international corporations
and groups were forged over the years, YFU was determined
to strengthen its national and international ties by
relocating. The International Center moved from Ann Arbor,
Michigan to Washington, DC in 1978.
The Council on Standards for International Educational
Travel (CSIET) was founded in 1984 with the intent to
identify reputable international youth exchange programs
to insure that youth are provided with meaningful and
safe international exchange experiences. On the basis of
materials submitted and reviewed.
CSIET has granted full listing to YFU USA, certifying that YFU
complies with the standards set forth in the CSIET Standards
for International Educational Travel Programs.