Youth For Understanding USA

Let Jouri from Kuwait gallop on into your life! Horseback riding is Jouri's favorite hobby, which she does weekly, and she would love to find a horseback riding club on her exchange year if given the opportunity. She also loves to explore her creative side through painting, drawing, pottery, and basically any kind of art. When she's completed one of her masterpieces, she loves to share her artwork with others! She also recently joined her drama club at school. Aspiring to be a business owner or lawyer one day, Jouri works hard to be an excellent student and enjoys solving problems and helping others. When she's not studying hard, she can be found cooking with her family, hanging out with her best friends, and showing her soft spot for animals by feeding strays in her neighborhood. Studying abroad has been Jouri's greatest dream and she's extremely excited to meet you and become a part of your family! YES SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT

Necirvan comes to us from a beautiful and historic city in Turkey! He has a talent for locating countries on a map and would love to share his rich culture with your family. At school, Necirvan is a member of the literature and art history club. His favorite painter is Rembrandt and he loves to study art from the Baroque period. Other hobbies for Necirvan include playing soccer, reading detective novels like Sherlock Holmes, and watching movies, especially the Lord of the Rings trilogy. With his friends, Necirvan enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and video games. Necirvan's teacher says he is goal-oriented, social, and a leader in the classroom. He wants to become an ambassador or engineer one day and knows that he must become a worldly person in order to achieve his goals. Necirvan thanks you for choosing him as your exchange son! YES SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT

Meet Mario, a sporty, creative teen from Spain! Mario has played both soccer and basketball for several years and would enjoy playing during exchange if possible. Weekends often find him playing sports outside with friends. His family shares his love for sports and outdoor activities since they often bike together, and during the summer Mario's dad takes Mario and Mario's friends camping. Although he says his favorite classes are economics and math, Mario is an avid novel reader and film viewer. As he says, books and films help him imagine other ways of life and situations, and he enjoys making up his own stories, too. Although uncertain of his future occupation, Mario has narrowed his university plans to studying a career "related to creativity." He explains that a U.S trip years ago sparked his interest in a broader American experience. Described as optimistic, empathetic, open-minded, and responsible, Mario is eager to participate in his host family's activities and promises to cook Spanish dishes for you, such as his favorite tortillas with potato.

Introducing Oscar, a 15 year old boy from Spain. Oscar loves all sports, especially handball, which he's played for several years. He lives with his parents and younger brother, and enjoys spending time with them. His father was an exchange student in the U.S., and has told Oscar that it was a great experience. Oscar sees himself as empathetic and athletic, and his friends view him as very trustworthy. His teacher says that he is an extrovert, is optimistic, has a sense of humor, and interacts well with his peers. Oscar looks forward to experiencing a new culture and customs, and hopes to improve his English language skills. Will Oscar become your newest family member?

Fun and sporty David from Spain is patiently awaiting the start of his American adventure. David loves to learn about new cultures and has traveled extensively around Europe but now says it's time to expand his horizons and learn all about the USA. He is ready to learn all about the American high school experience and hopes he can continue learning more about math and science. David wants to improve his English so he can study science at college in the future. He loves to play basketball and will play several days a week with his friends. When not attempting shots on the basketball court, you will find David in the boxing ring. After all this physical activity, he likes to wind down by watching movies with the Marvel franchise being his favorite. He also like to play video and computer games with others. David hopes he can win the game with a great host family who shares his love of sports.

Fifteen year old Aurélien from France is described by his friends as funny, talkative and kind. This young student attends a high school for the arts where he focuses on such topics as fashion, drawing, painting, dance, art and sewing. Aurélien is even able to make clothing with his skills! This lends itself to his future career goal of creating his own clothing line. He thoroughly enjoys using his imagination in his creations and sharing them with the world. Aurélien comes from a large family with three older siblings. His family loves to travel to different countries in their camper so they can enjoy other cultures together. In addition to his large family, Aurélien has a whole menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and chickens! It's easy to see how much he loves animals. Though he is a vegetarian, he is open to eating meat on exchange. In his free time, Aurélien loves to go shopping with his friends, watch TV and go bowling. Perhaps Aurélien will find a home with your family.

Her passion is dancing, but for Maria from Spain, sports in general are a big part of her life. Maria is described as sociable and extroverted (she says that she is "not at all shy"), someone who is easy-going, adventurous, and loves to try new things and meet new people. Maria has been dancing since she can remember, everything from Spanish Flamenco to ballet to hip hop, and devotes a lot of time to it. She likes to keep fit and enjoys going to the gym, loves to do all kinds of sports activities with her mom, and until she dedicated herself to dance, liked to play volleyball. Maria not only likes participating in sports, she also enjoys watching soccer, basketball, and volleyball games. In her free time, Maria likes to read, watch movies, watch fashion shows and read fashion magazines, and bake new desserts for her family and friends, whom she says she cares deeply about. A favorite activity is traveling, and Maria hopes to travel all around the world someday. As an only child, Maria would be excited about the opportunity to experience having a sibling in the family!

Described by her friends as a caring, diligent, and reliable person, Elisa from Germany takes great joy and satisfaction in helping others. She is involved in numerous activities that serve those around her, for example: school medical team, children's worship helper, a water rescue organization. She is also involved in volleyball, dance, and plays the piano. Elisa says of herself that she "enjoys being with others, but sometimes enjoys simply being by herself". Elisa counts it a great honor to have been chosen to represent her country in the USA. She is looking forward to stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing new experiences. Elisa is grateful for your willingness to host her and is looking forward to meeting her host family. Is that family yours? CBYX SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT

Bring a little bit of Thailand into your world by welcoming Jai into your family. Jai is a well-rounded young man who is eager to begin his exchange year with your family. He loves the outdoors, basketball, swimming and table tennis as well as reading, watching movies and drawing. While on exchange he hopes to broaden his world view as well as improve his English language skills. He also hopes to learn to play the guitar, go hiking and camping as well as attend an American birthday party! Jai has always dreamed of coming to the United States on exchange. Will you welcome him into your family?

Friendly, funny, dynamic and generous are words that describe Clarisse from French-speaking Belgium. An excellent student, Clarisse hopes to work in international business one day. She's eager to perfect her English during her exchange year, although she has immersed herself in English over the years in many ways and is very proficient already! Clarisse loves to dance and hopes to continue while on exchange. She's very open to trying new activities as well. With her friends, Clarisse enjoys shopping, walking around the city, and seeing films. During the pandemic, she taught herself to sew! Clarisse is looking forward to learning first-hand about American culture and traditions with her new host family! Could Clarisse be your newest family member?

Ambitious, open minded and friendly are just a few words that Kasper's teachers use to describe him. Kasper says he enjoys school and a variety of classes from cooking to science. His excellent grades show his commitment to his education and his extra effort he makes to achieving his goals. Kasper enjoys all sports including tennis, basketball, and fitness training. When not at school Kasper enjoys camping with family and friends. He loves cooking over a campfire and primitive camping. Kasper has job in a local supermarket and is saving money for his exchange year. It is best for Kasper to have a pet free home since he allergic to pet hair however, dogs that do not shed are not an issue. Kasper would like you to know that he loves being around people and embraces all cultures. He is excited to be a part of an American family and even hopes he can cook a Danish dish for you! Grateful Kasper says see you soon! Willing to consider private school tuition up to $5k.

There's much more to Mongolia than Genghis Khan, and Khuslen looks forward to teaching you! He's a modern-day guy, who hopes to study IT Management in an American university after his exchange year and finishing high school at home. One of five siblings, Khuslen helps his younger brothers with their homework, especially learning new math skills and memorizing English vocabulary. He challenges himself by participating in academic competitions such as math and science and serves on the student council to help solve problems that come up in his school. Khuslan has his more active side, too. During the winter, he likes hiking in the mountains and sledding, but much of the year finds him with his friends, either riding bikes or playing basketball. "Cleanliness and peace" are the most important characteristics of his family lifestyle, but everyone also enjoys cooking and trying foreign foods. He's sure to find new favorites during his exchange year! Described as easy-going and caring, Khuslan says, "I'm thankful and excited to join your family." Khuslen will arrive in January 2024.

Mostafa has many interests and is ready to add some new ones when he arrives in the USA. He is a bit intrigued by American football. However, soccer is his game, "because I love it so much and it is fun when playing with my friends or other people ...it is like being in another world like you forget about everything while playing, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you should never quit." Mostafa's family enjoy spending time together. He regularly loses at chess to his father! They all enjoy watching soccer together. Occasionally they have a meal our and he often helps his mother cook. YES SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT

Meet Adam who describes himself as open, funny and enjoys life. Adam's favorite classes in school are Art, History and Economics. Adam enjoys drawing and in his free time he is always pushing his skills to his next sketch because drawing allows him to relax. Adam likes to workout daily in the gym to keep in shape, but his true passion is kickboxing. He practices weekly and enjoys the lessons of self defense and self-control. Adam hopes to continue his gym workouts and kickboxing once in the USA. Adam's career goal is in Economics. He hopes to understand the American culture and government structure while on exchange. Besides art, Adam enjoys fashion and traveling. His family often travels to Morocco to visit friends and family where he can enjoy the beautiful ocean, beach, and native cuisine. Adam is excited to start his adventure in the USA and having an American family that he can share his year with is a lifetime dream. CBYX SCHOLOARSHIP STUDENT

Julien is an active teen who is used to being part of a big busy family with 7 younger brothers and sisters! Julien helps lead the youth service at church and is active in the church community with his family. Julien is an avid handball player and looks forward to trying a new activity while on program. He also enjoys baking and cooking I suspect his treats do not last long in his big family! Julien also thrives on and enjoys quiet. His friends indicate he has a very calm demeanor and manages stress well. Julien is eager to experience all that he can while he is in the USA.CBYX SCHOLOARSHIP STUDENT

Meet Dilan, a vibrant and multilingual young woman hailing from Germany. Fluent in Turkish, Kurdish, and German, she effortlessly weaves together her diverse cultural background. Dilan's passion for English surpasses all, declaring it her favorite subject in school. Growing up with immigrant parents has its quirks, and Dilan humorously embraces the challenges of balancing her traditional upbringing with modern influences. Dilan's zest for life is undeniable, as she has spent the past seven years actively participating in her local youth center. From creative crafts to athletic endeavors and lively dances, she eagerly immerses herself in every opportunity for growth, friendship, and fun. Described as funny, open-minded, polite, caring, and helpful, Dilan radiates warmth and enthusiasm. She eagerly anticipates her upcoming exchange year, where she plans to share her vibrant cultures, tantalizing cuisines, and embrace the daily life of her American host family. Dilan's presence promises to enrich lives and forge lasting connections while embodying the essence of cultural exchange.

Looking for a biking partner? Anton loves spending time with his family bicycling the paths of his home town and on family vacations. He even prefers taking a bike to school instead of the bus! He likes playing guitar in his free-time and enjoys rowing where he says he can enjoy nature and the fresh air. Anton?s passion for the outdoors extends to participating in projects helping wildlife and the environment. Coming from a small town in Germany, Anton likes occasions where he has an opportunity to dress up. He enjoys time with friends by going to the local ice cream parlor and he can often be found in the kitchen baking cakes and pies. His mother describes him as ?motivated and hard-working?. He often helps with small chores around the house which includes taking care of the family?s 4 chickens. Anton is eager to delve into daily life with his new host family. For him it is the day-to-day life that excites him most and he looks forward to experiencing what life, as an American teenager, will be like in your home. CBYX SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT

Do you have pets or other animals? Animal loving Leonie from Germany may be the perfect student for you! The time with her fish and turtles, the family cat, guinea pigs, and chickens is always time well spent. On weekends, Leonie cleans her aquariums. and the family enjoys a Sunday breakfast of eggs from their eleven chickens. Because of her love for animals, Leonie decided nearly seven years ago to become a vegetarian, but she thrives on bread, cheese, eggs, yogurt, vegetables, salads, fruits, and fish. Since she enjoys cooking, she'll gladly help with meals, too. She and her family play tabletop games and garden together, and like all teenagers Leonie likes hanging out with friends and celebrating their birthdays. Other favorite activities include karate, swimming, and drawing. An excellent student in school, Leonie motivates others in group work, has won a prize in a history competition, serves on student council, and participates in weekly drama club. Family oriented and often helping with younger siblings, Leonie looks forward to becoming an active member of her host family. CBYX SCHOLOARSHIP STUDENT

Meet Julia, a friendly and helpful 16 year old girl from Germany. Julia enjoys travelling, is a big fan of soccer, and loves to read, especially Harry Potter. Julia views herself as determined, positive and open minded. She would also love to learn how to speak Spanish. Her friends say that she is kind, fun and empathetic. And her teacher says that she is polite, is well respected by her classmates, and has a good sense of humor. Julia also tutors younger students. Julia would love to become the newest member of your family. CBYX SCHOLOARSHIP STUDENT

Meet 16 year old Alexander from Germany! With the goal of keeping his mind and body at their peak, you can find Alexander nearly every day in the gym where he completes his exercise regime. While in the US, he hopes to try his hand at American sports like football and baseball. Before you think he focuses just on athletics, Alexander also enjoys baking because he believes that everyone should practice such an important skill! Family and friends are also important for him, and he sets aside his weekends to focus on them. His family is quite close and they enjoy their weekly board game nights and taking trips to their favorite ice cream shop. Alexander considers himself to be open, and he enjoys meeting new people. He's dreamed of studying in the US because he loves the culture of the country as well as the language. Though he doesn't know what career path he wants to take yet, Alexander would love to continue his studies at an American university in the future. Would you consider opening your home to Alexander? Perhaps he'll even make you a cake! CBYX SCHOLOARSHIP STUDENT