Parents Area


Testimonials

"Thank you so much for all of your help during Loren’s exchange in Austria, YFU were always so very cheerful, friendly, willing and able to help when asked. We thought YFU were great and did a fantastic job with everything. We will definitely recommend the organisation to others."
Julie, Mother of Loren YFU exchange student to Austria

"We started investigating international exchange programmes when my daughter, Anastasia, was year 8 and finally made our choice with YFU. After we had visited exchange school fair, I wrote to several companies providing this kind of service and YFU was one of the first to respond. Since the very first encounter with YFU, they responded fast to all our questions and requirements, the communication was very clear and precise. I particularly appreciate the effort put forward by YFU Australia and New Zealand and YFU France to choose a host family to match children's interests and hobbies. I have the pleasure of recommending YFU Australia Ltd. & YFU New Zealand Inc. to students and their parents exploring opportunities to visit and study in other countries."
Marina, mother of Anastasia YFU Exchange Student to France

For parents...

You & Your Child's Exchange


Your teenage son or daughter has come home and told you they want to go on exchange. You naturally have a number of concerns and questions about allowing your teenager to go to the other side of the world to live with another family. Parents have had such concerns since exchange programs for young people have existed.

YFU has been organising such exchanges for almost 60 years. YFU New Zealand staff and volunteers have all experienced exchange as exchange students themselves, parents who have sent their children on exchange or as host families of exchange students. We fully understand your concerns and your need to have answers to many questions before you can agree to your son or daughter going on exchange overseas.


Exchange Involves Partnerships

International student exchange involves a number of partnerships. Partnerships between:

  • The exchange organisations in the sending and hosting countries
  • The outbound exchange organisation and the student’s natural parents
  • The exchange organisation in the host country and the host family
  • The student and the host family
  • The student’s natural family and the host family
  • The student and the exchange organisation


The most important of these partnerships is that between the outbound exchange organisation and you the student’s natural parents.


We know that as a parent you want what is best for your children. You want to be confident that the exchange organisations in New Zealand and the country overseas have procedures to ensure the happiness, safety and security of your child in an ever changing world. You want to be confident that staff and volunteers who will support your child while preparing for exchange and while on exchange are caring and supportive and professionally trained people.

YFU as a world-wide exchange organisation has as a central element of its operation, the establishment of a strong and on-going partnership between our staff and volunteers and an outbound student’s parents. Our service commitment to you as the student’s parents is to communicate with you openly and frequently, to provide timely answers to your questions and concerns about exchange no matter how small.

For a list of frequently asked questions, please click here