Youth For Understanding USA

Introducing Nele, a 16 year old CBYX scholarship winner from Germany. She enjoys drawing, crocheting and ballet in her free time. Nele sees herself as an open minded, honest and caring individual. Her friends see her as an emotionally intelligent person who cares about their well-being. And her teacher says that Nele has a wide scope of interests, actively participates in class and has very good English language proficiency. Nele is very grateful to your family for helping to make her dream come true. Will she become your newest family member? CBYX Scholarship Student.

Hannah is a 16 year old girl from Germany with many interests and lots of energy. An excellent student, teachers describe her as dedicated to doing her best, responsible and supportive of others. Sarah is editor of the school paper and enjoys writing articles for publication. She is also a member of the group fostering understanding and breaking down stereotypes through personal exchanges. Hannah has been a member of a field hockey team for 12 years and coaches a group of young boys as well. She loves the friendships among the team members, as well as the physical workout and sense of competition. As a coach, she enjoys sharing her expertise and watching skills improve and commitment to the sport grow. Hannah plays the piano and enjoys listening to a variety of music genre from her record collection. Among her many hobbies are photography, reading, drawing and writing short stories - all of which she says provide her with creativity, relaxation and adventure. Since Sarah has a close relationship with her own family (Mom, Dad and older sister), she is looking forward to becoming a part of her host family and having a lot of adventures with them. CBYX Scholarship Student.

Describing himself as brave and open-minded, Hauke from Germany, cannot wait to experience a new culture! With a keen interest in politics, economics, and social issues, Hauke is a strong advocate for a fairer and more just world. He is also excited at the prospect of being a representative for Germany to his host family and community. To unwind and relax, Hauke enjoys reading, hiking, and playing table tennis; he is part of table tennis club at home. He is looking forward to the possibility of participating in new sports during his exchange year. In addition to all this, Hauke is active in his church community and regularly takes on leadership responsibilities--his open and friendly personality make it easy for others to relate to him. Hauke is thrilled his dream of an exchange year is one step closer to coming true! The next step is up to you! CBYX SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT.

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

Meet Frey! Frey is a respectful, family oriented, and athletic 16 year old young man from Germany. His family consists of his mother, stepfather, younger brother, and the family cat. Frey enjoys spending time with his family which often includes soccer with his younger brother or helping him with school work. He also likes to stay active by playing volleyball, tennis, and going to the gym but also likes to spend time drawing and cooking. Frey is very civic minded and participates in student government at his school, volunteers with the local junior fire department, and tutors other young children. He is interested in pursing a career in engineering, law, or politics after he graduates from University. Frey is excited to be able to improve his English while on exchange, participate in high school sports, and become part of your family. CBYX SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Who do you know that is musical, sporty, tech-savvy, and family-oriented? Introducing Simon from Germany! Simon is all these, and so much more! Full of enthusiasm and curiosity, Simon is very much looking forward to meeting you and being part of your family. Simon describes himself as very active, with a wide range of hobbies and interests. Simon's biggest passion is sports--he plays soccer, tennis, and loves to ski. He is also an accomplished musician who plays piano in his school's jazz band. Away from those activities, Simon is also drawn to anything technology-related. Simon can't wait to immerse himself in the American culture and experience it for himself. He is eager to share his own culture with you and broaden his own understandings, as well. Simon promises to make the most of his opportunity to come to the US; Care to take him up on that promise? 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

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.

Introducing Ghazal, from the West Bank! This outgoing 14-year old girl loves to meet new people and try new things! While she can't wait to meet you and be a part of your family, she also dreams of sharing her own culture and customs with you. Ghazal is a dedicated basketball player, and can't wait to join the basketball team at her host school; she is also looking forward to perhaps joining a theater production. With dreams of becoming a doctor, Ghazal is most passionate about helping others and improving the lives of those around her. Most of all, Ghazal dreams of sharing the amazing exchange experience with her host family. Will you be the one to welcome Ghazal into your family and set off on the adventure of a lifetime? YES 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

Clara, a 15 year old girl from Germany loves the theatre! She has been participating in theatre programs since she was young and she loves attending shows and plays as well. Clara is an extroverted individual who is also open-minded and cheerful. She recently started playing badminton with her mom and also enjoys cooking and baking. She is excited to share some German recipes with you! Clara is also part of her church's youth group and volunteers for church activities often. Clara is excited to start her exchange year! She can't wait to meet you and create many memories together over the year! CBYX Scholarship Student.

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

With a flair for the creative, as well as an interest in baseball, meet Yunis, from Germany. Yunis is passionate about baseball and hopes to continue to play while in the US. He is also very excited to try lots of different sports. Honest, yet respectful of the opinions of others, Yunis will always give you his honest opinion. He is interested in politics and economics and feels that teens should discuss these topics together more often. He loves to writesometimes creating poetry and sometimes just putting his thoughts on paper. He is very involved in the school newspaper and is considering a career in journalism. Yunis has dabbled in photography and likes the way it dovetails into his interest in journalism. He occasionally writes screen plays and enjoys watching movies. Everyone, from teachers to peers, say Yunis is friendly and open minded. He serves on student council at his school and also at the district level. Yunis lives with his mother and older brother, but also spends quite a bit of time with his father. Will Yunis be the perfect fit for your family? CBYX Scholarship Student.

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.

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

Meet Nojan! Nojan is a quadrilingual (German, English, French, & Farsi) soccer player, fan, and referee who also happens to get straight As in school. He is responsible, reliable, and ambitious and has a few simple guiding principles in life. First, value the simple things in life - family dinners, spending quality time with friends, and game nights. Second, be a good person who is remembered by others in a positive way. Third, focus on developing meaningful connections and collect as many unforgettable memories as possible. Last, having fun is easy when you are with the right people. Nojan chose the US because he was fascinated by American culture, sports, and way of life and even hopes to one day attend college in the US pursing a degree in business. Nojan doesnt have many expectations for his exchange year but hopes to be able to continue to play soccer and become part of an active and open family that is excited to welcome a German exchange student into their home. CBYX SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Sarah is a 16 year old Swiss girl who says her family and friends are very important to her. They spend time together skiing in the winter and swimming in the summer. They try to always eat dinner together to share their day's activities. Sarah enjoys sports - especially tennis, as she is a member of a tennis team. She likes developing a sense of teamwork and discipline. She also likes to ride her bicycle and does so to school every morning. Sarah's favorite subjects in school are languages and economics. She feels that being able to communicate in another's language is important in truly understanding different cultures. Sarah is a young lady with a positive attitude - "every obstacle in a learning opportunity". She has dreamed of living in and experiencing another culture since she was a little girl and is ready now to experience new and unique moments and make memories that will stay with her forever.

Meet Laurin! Laurin is an open minded, social, and responsible 16 year old boy from Switzerland. He loves staying active and plays soccer, volleyball, ice hockey, spends a few days at the gym every week, and has skied since he was 3 years old. His interests are not confined to sports and has played piano for 5 years and also enjoys playing computer games, watching movies and shows, cooking, and going a swim in the river when visiting his grandparents in the summer. Laurin would love to be able to play American football, volleyball, or other sport while on exchange and is excited about the idea of potentially having a host sibling. He became interested in doing an exchange program in the US after visiting New York and Boston as well as being interested in all the different geographies that can be found in the US. After his exchange Laurin is planning to attend University and pursue a career in law. He is excited about his upcoming exchange experience and being able to be part of your family.

Meet Sofie, a social and extroverted 15 year old girl from the Netherlands. Sofie loves to sing, dance and be on stage! Actually, her dream is to become a popstar and actress! She also loves languages, and speaks English, German, Portuguese and Dutch fluently! She has also studied French and Swedish. Her friends say that she is helpful, smart and supportive. And Sofie's teacher says that she is conscientious, is a great communicator and has very good English language proficiency. Sofie can't wait to meet your family!

Meet Maike! Maike is an open-minded, adventurous, and creative 16 year old girl from Germany. Her family consists of her mom, dad, big brother, two dogs, four guinea pigs, and five birds. She loves all animals with the exception of snakes and spiders. Maike attends a high school that emphasizes music in its curriculum which gives her the opportunity to play piano and sing in multiple choirs. She is also a part of student government at her school which allows her to help plan school events and resolve problems with the student body. Maike enjoys volunteering at her local church where she gets to work with younger children. She also enjoys creative pursuits such as drawing and painting in addition to spending quality time with her family and friends. She hopes to be able to improve her English, gain a better understanding of US culture and politics, and participate in high school clubs or theater while on exchange. Maike is both excited and grateful that you would open your home and make room in your family for her and looks forward to making wonderful memories together. CBYX SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT