Volunteer with YFU

YFU started as a volunteer initiative over 70 years ago, and we still hold true to this principle with our 12,000 volunteers across the globe. YFU is one of the few volunteer based International exchange programs, meaning we do what we do simply because we love it!

We offer you a unique volunteer opportunity. With our wide variety of volunteers from around the world, we are a diverse group that comes together with one mind and purpose: to change the course of an individual life. You will become a vital, integrated link in our program, allowing you to gain important career skills such as intercultural communication, leadership, planning, and more. 

YFU wouldn't exist without our volunteers. Some volunteers are exchange alumni and host families while others are parents and college students. The connecting factor is that each one possesses different skills and gifts needed to make a successful, influential organization. We at YFU are so thankful for their time and energy. We want you to be part of our team as well and have a place for you to connect with our diverse service opportunities. If you enjoy working with people, you could work at an orientation or even interview prospective students and host families. If you like planning and organizing, you could work in an administrative department or help implement policy guidelines. Whatever your interests, we have a place for you to connect.  

Current opportunities for volunteers

Find here the open calls for internships and volunteering internationally!


European Solidarity Corps Volunteer Project: Colored Glasses

What: Are you passionate about shaping the futures of young minds? Do you thrive in diverse environments and believe in the power of cultural exchange? If so, YFU Belgium-Flanders invites you to explore an exciting opportunity to contribute to YFU's mission in Mechelen, Flanders. In this role, your tasks include 1. Planning of workshops taking place both during and outside of office hours, 2. Participating in Coloured Glasses workshops and documenting the process of facilitation for later evaluation of simulations. 3. Follow-up of workshops and contact with organizations. 4. Optional tasks, these result from a professional work environment and office behavior.

Where: Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium.

When: Starting September 2024 

Who can apply: Open to individuals aged 18-30 from: EU member states and non-EU participating countries (Iceland, Rep. of North Macedonia, Liechtenstein), EFTA countries, Norway, and neighboring partner countries (such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine...)

Apply here!

Colored Glasses Project in Belgium, Europe
YFU Belgium-Flanders invites you to explore an exciting opportunity to contribute to YFU's mission.
Mar 07, 2024 07:00

European Solidarity Corps Volunteer Project: Cultural Games

What: Are you passionate about advancing intercultural understanding through educational exchanges? If so, YFU Belgium-Flanders invites you to explore an exciting opportunity to contribute to YFU's mission in Mechelen, Flanders. In this role, your tasks include 1. Planning of workshops taking place both during and outside of office hours, 2. Participation in Cultural Games workshops and document the process of facilitation for later evaluation of games. 3. Follow-up of workshops and contact with organizations. 4. Optional tasks, these result from a professional work environment and office behavior.

Where: Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium.

When: Starting September 2024

Who can apply: Open to individuals aged 18-30 from: EU member states and non-EU participating countries (Iceland, Rep. of North Macedonia, Liechtenstein), EFTA countries, Norway, and neighboring partner countries (such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine...)

Apply here!

Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteers are young and old, men and women, students, professionals and retired

Together they are our 12,000 volunteers around the globe that believes in YFU’s mission and want to help to make the world a better place. Through YFU you get to support young people and families in making their journey through the exchange experience into a successful one. For this we need you from the application to the return, from local level to international positions, simply put it – YFU is built by and through volunteers!

If you have the desire to:

  • Learn more about the world
  • Interact with teenagers and families
  • Meet new cultures and teach about your own
  • Support people with problem-solving and guidance
  • Be an ambassador for a good cause
  • Contribute to fight intolerance and prejudices
  • Learn more about yourself
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Strengthen your skills in project management, mediation,
  • planning, facilitation

Then we clearly have the role for you, you can choose to:

  • Interview students and families before acceptance to the program
  • Organize orientations and seminars
  • Provide local support to students and families
  • Be active in marketing and promotional activities
  • Coordinate activities on local and national level
  • Contribute your time to different groups and boards
  • And much more

How do I become a volunteer?

Get in touch with your National YFU Organization, and they will get you involved

Connect with Your YFU