Youth For Understanding USA

Meet adventurous, open-minded, and extroverted Lara from Germany. Lara's teachers have indicated that Lara is an excellent student who interacts well with her peers and her teachers. Lara enjoys competitions like those in a debate club or math club. Lara has been a volunteer with Unicef programs for children, as a handball referee, and as a tutor for younger students. Lara hopes to continue swimming and karate while on exchange. Lara enjoys skiing and hopes to be able to try surfing while on exchange. Lara enjoys reading, listening to all kinds of music, baking, playing board games, going to the beach, and going to the movies with friends. She is grateful to her new host family for welcoming her into their home. She looks forward to spending time with you sharing cultures and family activities together. Lara likes dogs and cats and would enjoy getting to know the family pet dog or cat as well. Lara also helps around the house emptying the dishwasher, keeping her room clean, as well as other chores as needed. Would you like to welcome this well rounded, polite and joyful student into your home for a year of exchange? CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Meet Helene, a 15 year old who sees herself as a bright, positive and open person. She loves archery, rowing, cooking and baking, and would love to try fishing, wrestling and American football while in the US. Her friends say that she is funny and welcoming, and takes time to include everyone into the group. Her teacher says that she is motivated and sociable, and encourages others to do their best. And she has excellent English language proficiency! Are you ready to welcome this special young lady into your family? CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Sid is a calm, authentic, and easy-going exchange student from Germany, with a passion for personal growth and connecting with others. Fluent in both German and Hindi, he values the power of having the right mindset and thrives in social environments. A devoted animal lover, Sid cherishes his time with his four cats, and his weekends are filled with family bonding, from cleaning and hiking to visiting friends and enjoying card games together. Cooking is a highlight of their shared moments. At school, Sid is ambitious and dedicated, excelling in Physics and Math, driven by his curiosity and love for learning. His family describes him as deeply empathetic, and he has spent weeks away from home at science camps and cultural events, expanding his horizons. Beyond academics, Sid is a blue belt in martial arts, a certified lifeguard, and enjoys badminton. He actively participates in his schools paramedic program, science club, and youth camps. Sid looks forward to growing even more during his year in the U.S., eagerly anticipating becoming a part of an American family. He is incredibly grateful for this life-changing opportunity and cannot wait to meet and bond with his new family. CBYX Scholarship student.

Have you ever met someone who gets straight As in school, does MMA, tutors young children, swims competitively, loves computer games, plays guitar, is a self taught coder, won a highly selective exchange program scholarship, and shares an equal love of both math and philosophy? If not, today is your lucky day, because Kelvin from Germany is looking for a host family to spend the year with. Kelvin hopes to participate in a variety of sports while on exchange such as American football, swimming, or wrestling or find volunteer opportunities with local charitable organizations. He is the middle child in a tight knit family of 5 who is excited about the opportunity to be a member of your family which he hopes to develop a connection with that lasts even after his exchange year is over. He is undecided with exact future plans but is planning to attend University and either pursue a STEM related career or join an NGO helping people around the world. If you have space in your family for a kind, curious, & responsible young person get ready for an exceptional year filed with fun and adventure. CBYX Scholarship Student

Meet Rama! Rama is an open-minded, adventurous, and kind 14 year old girl from Jordan. Her family consists of her mother, father, and three younger siblings. As the oldest child she is accustomed to helping her parents keep the household running smoothly by cleaning, cooking, and helping her siblings with school work. Rama is a gifted student, loves to make bracelets for friends and family, participates in a robotics club at her school, enjoys spending time with her grandparents, as well spending time with her friends. Rama believes that friendship is like standing in wet cement - the longer you stay the harder it is to leave, and you can never go without leaving your footprints behind. Rama is still working out a specific future plan but is planning to attend university and pursue a career in medicine or engineering in order to make a positive impact on society. She is excited to improve her English, have the opportunity to be immersed in a new culture, and make new friends. However, the thing that Rama is most excited about is getting to know you and making unforgettable memories together while on exchange. YES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Meet Elisa! Elisa is a respectful, determined, and athletic 16 year old girl from Germany. Her family consists of her mother, father, three younger brothers, two older sisters, a rabbit, and a turtle. She is very family oriented and loves to spend time with them doing a wide variety of activities together in all four seasons. In summer she loves to go boating with her family and enjoys water skiing, windsurfing, and tubing. In winter she and her family regularly go skiing and snowboarding in the Black Forest. Indoor activities like playing cards or watching movies are year round family favorites. Elisa has been a swimmer for over 10 years, plays volleyball and water polo recreationally, & has played piano for 8 years. She likes to spend time with her friends baking, playing laser tag, or watching movies. She also loves to read when its time to recharge her social batteries. Elisa has great initiative which she demonstrated by organizing all of her CBYX scholarship activities by herself in order to fulfill her dream of getting to experience a new culture, have the opportunity to improve her English, make new friends, and be a part of your family. CBYX Scholarship Student

Music is more than just a hobby for me, its a way of expressing myself creatively, says Jakob, from Germany. And his life truly does revolve around music! Jokob plays drums, trombone, e-bass and is a member of an orchestra. He also likes to arrange music, and sees a musical career of some sort in his future. But music is not all Jakob is good at. He has played team handball for 10 years and also enjoys ballroom dance. At school, he serves on Student Council and the Student Response Medical Team. And in his community, her serves on Youth Parliament. Jakob admits he may be a bit reserved at first, but he is working to become more confident and outgoing, counting on his exchange experience to help with this. His core values of tolerance, fairness, self-determination and community guide his life. He claims to be open-minded and adventurous, always looking for new experiences. Family oriented, Jakob lives with his parents and a younger brother. They share meals and enjoy hiking and biking together. He is excited to meet and build lasting relationships with his host family. CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Caring and curious Jule, from Germany, is ready to begin her exchange experience in the United States. Her love for others and her sense of empathy are just a couple things that friends love about her. In school, she enjoys learning English and studying biology. She also participates in a club that goes to a facility for those with disabilities, spending time with them, helping with crafts and just talking about everything from their day to memories of their past. Her love of science and her passion for others have led her to want to pursue a career in neuroscience, where she would like to practice medicine as well as research Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases. While on exchange, Jule hopes that she will gain confidence in meeting new people, discover things that she has never experienced before and become more independent and open to new things. She would also like to try cross country or track, and possibly other sports. Will you welcome Jule into your family and help her experience all the new things an exchange year has to offer? CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Meet Natsuki (nickname Nuts) from Japan! Natsuki is described by friends and teachers as responsible, kind, and a good listener. He has been a class leader and participated on school committees and would like to find volunteer opportunities while on exchange. He is a soccer fan who has played soccer for 10 years, enjoys watching the Premier League, and would love to be able to continue to play while on exchange. He values his relationship with his family and they often like to pursue outdoor activities together. He especially appreciates the opportunity to combine his love of the outdoors with photography. He would also love to have the chance to go camping with his host family while on exchange. He likes to listen to a variety of music with his favorites being Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, and ONE OK ROCK. During his exchange year he is hoping to learn about American culture, broaden his perspectives, improve his English skills, and to be a part of your family. He would like to use his exchange year to further an internationally oriented career so that he would make a more positive impact on the world. Natsuki is a scholarship winner and must be placed in Wisconsin in a school with a FCCLA chapter.

Outgoing and self-confident, meet Ruby, from Germany. Ruby claims that Curiosity drives me to explore the world around me and expand my knowledge. This mature young lady is an excellent student with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon one day. In fact, she did a summer internship in a Berlin hospital and that helped to confirm her dream. Adventurous and spontaneous, Ruby is a great friend and is also very close to her mother and younger sister. She often does homework together with her sister, or plays basketball, or watches TV with her. Well rounded Ruby LOVES to read! She claims, I can immerse myself in another world and let my imagination run wild! Her hobbies are many, including cooking, listening to music, hanging out with friends, painting, volunteering and watching movies or sports. Ruby would love to try more sports while in the US, while making lots of new friends and developing a close relationship with her host family. Her goals while on exchange are to grow beyond myself; leave my comfort zone more often, and gain more self-confidence. CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Meet Teona, a small town 16 year old girl with a supersized heart of gold from North Macedonia. Teona can often be found on a volleyball court with her teammates, in a local coffee shop with her friends, or curled up with a good book. Some of her favorite core childhood memories are horseback riding and watching movies with her family. Teona loves animals with her favorites being cats, bunnies, and horses. She can be a bit shy when meeting new people but that normally doesnt last long. She hopes to have the opportunity to attend a football game, participate in high school clubs or sports, and experience Halloween Trick-or-treating. She is not a stranger to hard work at school or helping her parents with weekend house cleaning duties. After high school she is planning to attend University and study Criminology. She is excited about spending a year in the US and for the chance to be part of your family. YES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Jan, a 16 year old student from Germany, is fun and sporty young man who has high aspirations of becoming a Judge one day. He is an excellent student and loves studying History and all things political. He plays soccer and is active in his Scouting organization. He describes himself as open-minded, friendly and enthusiastic. He believes his biggest strength, however, is empathy. He loves being able to understand how people are feeling and help find a solution to help make them feel better. In his free time, Jan enjoys gaming, listening to music, outdoor activities (especially water sports), and volunteering with his scouting organization. While in the United States on exchange, Jan hopes to learn more about the different cultures in America and the way of life for an American high school student. He can't wait to experience things like Thanksgiving and the Superbowl. He also hopes to improve his English skills and make many new friends. Could Jan be the perfect addition to your family? Open your heart and home to this amazing young man and give him the chance of a lifetime. CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Amalie is a 15 year old girl from Denmark who says she can be a little quiet at first meeting, but warms up quickly and can then be quite talkative. Amalie has been a part of a ballet group for several years and says she loves it. She also enjoys painting and drawing, reading a good book, watching movies and taking walks with her friends or Mom. A very good student, Amalie's favorite subjects are English and Social Studies. Teachers describe her as a great student - curious to learn and eager to help others when she can. After school, Amalie babysits before going to ballet. She and her family enjoy watching movies, playing board games, and taking walks together. Since her Mother was an exchange student, Amalie has seen the life-long bond between her Mother and her Host Family. Because of this, Amalie is excited to begin her own exchange adventure - filled with memories.

Meet Johanna! Johanna is an open-minded, social, and empathic 15 year old girl from Germany. She comes from a large family which consists of her mother, father, two older brothers, and two younger sisters. Johanna is an avid swimmer and is also passionate about teaching kids how to swim so they can have the chance to fall in love with the sport like she has. On a typical evening you will find Johanna curled up with a good book, cooking, or watching shows or movies. Johanna also loves to spend time outdoors, walking, or biking. She is excited about the opportunity to be immersed in US culture and have the opportunity to experience US traditions like Halloween, Thanksgiving, & high school football games. She is grateful that you would choose her to be part of your family and make her dream of an exchange year in the US come true. CBYX SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Family oriented and flexible, meet Helena, from Germany. Positive and optimistic Helena is well-rounded and always busy! From a family with two brothers and a younger sister, there is always something going on! Helena enjoys figure skating and running; is a Class Representative and School Mediator for many years; plays the piano and enjoys family walks, video games with her brothers and doing craft activities with her sister. An excellent student, Helena likes bringing people together and organizing activities. She is open-minded about new activities and enjoys new challenges and exploring places unknown. While on exchange, Helena hopes to experience a new culture which will allow her to become more open minded and adaptable. She wants to gain a broader perspective on life and learn more about herself, while improving her English skills. When not busy with school activities, she like playing table tennis, baking, drawing listening to music with friends, being outdoors and reading. Is there room for this bright and busy teen to slide into your home and win your heart? CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Introducing Johannes, he loves to cook and enjoys trying new foods. He sees himself as relaxed, social and open-minded. His friends say that he is friendly, confident and cheerful. And his teacher says that he is reliable, organized and has good English language proficiency. Will Johannes become your newest family member? CBYX Scholarship Recipient

Curious about the world and excited to break out on her own to explore it, meet Chau, from Vietnam! The eldest of three girls, Chau is close to her family and enjoys exploring around Hanoi and other cities on weekends with her family. Her big dream is to travel around the world, step out of her comfort zone and try new things while learning new cultures and languages. Chau has played piano for 5 years and likes playing badminton with her friends. Her main hobby is baking. She and her friends have an online bakery, which is small but allows them to raise money for charity. Friends say Chau is kind and enthusiastic and is always ready for new challenges. She gets along well with everyone and is good at solving problems and encouraging others. Concerned about our world, Chau has worked to achieve a zero waste policy at home and hopes to bring the green world back and see the world without war. Is Chau the face of kindness and curiosity you have been seeking?

Meet 16 year old Bruno from Germany! Energetic and curious, Bruno is very much looking forward to spending a year with you in the US. He is eager to step out of his comfort zone and face new challenges and experiences. His friends describe him as a sharp and entertaining person to talk to, with a sense of humor that keeps everyone entertained. Bruno loves being outdoors and enjoys track and field, muay thai, fishing, and swimming. Bruno also has a creative side that he indulges by drawing and baking--he says these activities help him unwind and to express himself. Bruno is eager to grow as a person, and believes a year with you will help him do just that. Bruno cannot wait to meet you and begin creating unforgettable memories together!

Julian, from Germany, is an ambitious young man with many hopes and dreams. His biggest passion is basketball, and he plays every chance he gets, with family or friends. He loves the game so much that he hopes to play professionally someday. Julian also enjoys playing video games online with his friends. He likes that he can get lost in the games and not have to focus on anything else around him. Family is important to him, and he enjoys dinner together as well as going to sporting events with his family. While on exchange, Julian hopes to become more independent and improve his ability to take responsibility. He also hopes to continue to play basketball and improve his skills on the court. He would also love to attend a few sporting events, possibly even professional events, with his host family. Outside of sports, he would like to make close friends and have a great relationship with his host family. He would also like to try a few new things like possibly a new sport, maybe American football or tennis, and learn to cook and bake, which he says is a skill that he will need before he is out on his own. Are you the chef that will help him learn to make a great meal?