Our History

In 1949, 50 German teenagers ventured across the Atlantic and were welcomed as ICYE “exchangees” into host families in the USA. ICYE was born.

Soon a reciprocal programme was established, with youth from the USA invited to spend a year with European families. More and more countries have joined the programme since then. Our programmes have been constantly revised and modified to reflect changes in society at a local, national and global level.

Today the ICYE Federation is an international, independent, non-profit organization with more than 40 National Committees and a significant presence across all continents. Its head office is in Berlin, Germany.

More insights into the development of ICYE can be found in the historical notes by Bill Perkins: “An Incomplete Story – International Christian Youth Exchange – 1949-1972“