Hosting a YFU Student

Hosting a YFU Exchange Student

Through Youth For Understanding (YFU), teenage exchange students experience another culture, master a new language, and make friendships that will last a lifetime while living with a volunteer host family in one of more than 40 countries around the world.

Families in participating countries can join thousands of other families around the world who have been selected to be YFU host families. All kinds of families host YFU students: married couples with or without children, single parents, as well as families with teenagers.

The family living experience is the key to the success of the YFU program for participating students and families. Students are not guests; they live as members of their host family.

What is Involved

Host families provide room, meals, guidance, and the experience of what everyday life is like in each of the YFU participating countries. Host families are often very busy people who share a commitment to opening their homes and hearts to a teenager from another country.

Host families help their student meet other teens through introductions to friends, neighbors, and classmates. Families also help the student to become familiar with the community and its resources such as the library, post office, recreational facilities, shopping areas, and interesting sights.

Students are encouraged to join clubs and pursue other activities. Host families arrange necessary transportation by driving the student, providing access to a bicycle or bus, or arranging rides with friends. Each student's natural family provides spending money and students are covered by medical insurance.

Support Provided for Families and Students

Local YFU volunteers, many of whom are YFU alumni or experienced host family members themselves, provide support for the exchange students, host families, and school personnel throughout the exchange experience.

Host families participate in and make it possible for their exchange student to take part in YFU-sponsored orientations. The host family and student work together to solve problems and to resolve difficulties and misunderstandings. If help is needed, the family and student are encouraged to contact their YFU volunteer for advice and assistance.

Students are expected to follow all YFU policies as well as laws in the host community. Any violations must be reported to a YFU volunteer or staff member.

To Learn More...

To learn more about programs available to families in your country, click on the Contact link at the top of this page. You may telephone or write to the National Office or fill out a contact request form.

After submitting an application, potential host families are interviewed and references are verified by local YFU volunteers or staff. Information which is obtained during the interview of the host family is used by YFU volunteers or staff to find an appropriate student for the family.