Strengthening the Future of International Exchange Through Partnership
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is proud to announce its role as a founding partner of Made Impact, a global initiative dedicated to increasing the recognition, visibility, and evidence of the positive impact international exchange and education have on individuals and society.
For more than 70 years, YFU has believed that intercultural exchange can help build understanding, empathy, and peace across borders. As the world faces growing social division, political uncertainty, and declining trust between communities, opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange have never been more important.
By partnering with Made Impact, YFU is helping to strengthen the global case for international exchange programs and demonstrate their lasting contribution to more connected, resilient, and inclusive societies.
What Is Made Impact?
Made Impact was created to address a longstanding challenge within the international education and exchange sector: while millions of people have been transformed by exchange experiences, the broader societal benefits are often overlooked in public policy and investment decisions.
The initiative brings together organizations, educators, young people, and advocates to collect evidence and stories that showcase how international exchange contributes to peacebuilding, social cohesion, leadership development, and global cooperation.
Through research, storytelling, and advocacy, Made Impact aims to build a stronger understanding of the long-term value of international education and cultural exchange.
A Million Stories: Creating the World’s Largest Exchange Archive
One of Made Impact’s flagship initiatives is A Million Stories, an ambitious project that seeks to create the world’s largest archive of international exchange experiences.
By gathering stories from exchange students, host families, volunteers, educators, and alumni around the world, the project will highlight the many ways exchange programs shape lives, communities, and future generations.
These stories will help demonstrate that the benefits of exchange extend far beyond individual participants, creating positive ripple effects throughout society.
The World Storyteller Project: A New Opportunity for YFU Volunteers
As part of this partnership, YFU volunteers now have the opportunity to participate in the World Storyteller Project.
The project empowers young people and volunteers to become storytellers within their communities by capturing and sharing authentic exchange experiences. Participants receive guidance on interviewing, storytelling, content creation, and documenting the real-world impact of international exchange.
Whether it’s recording the journey of a host family, sharing an exchange student’s experience, interviewing alumni, or highlighting volunteer contributions, storytellers play an important role in preserving and amplifying the voices that make the exchange community so unique.
By contributing to the World Storyteller Project, YFU volunteers can help ensure that these powerful experiences are shared with a wider audience and become part of a growing global movement that celebrates intercultural understanding.
Building Evidence for a More Connected World
Beyond storytelling, Made Impact is working to strengthen research and advocacy efforts that measure the long-term return on investment of international exchange and education.
This work seeks to demonstrate how exchange programs contribute to stronger communities, increased global understanding, economic opportunity, and peaceful international relationships.
The initiative also supports collaboration through the International Exchange & Education Summit, bringing together leaders from across the exchange sector, policymakers, educators, and young people to advance collective impact and innovation.
Why This Matters
For YFU, joining Made Impact as a founding partner is a natural extension of our mission to foster intercultural learning and global citizenship.
Together, we aim to help ensure that international exchange is increasingly recognized not only as a transformative personal experience but also as an essential investment in a more peaceful and connected future.
Get Involved
We invite YFU volunteers, alumni, host families, and exchange participants to become part of this exciting movement.
Whether by sharing your exchange story, contributing to A Million Stories, or joining the World Storyteller Project, your experiences can help demonstrate the lasting value of international exchange for generations to come.
Learn more about Made Impact and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of global exchange.
