MSU Extension 4-H

In an increasingly connected world, Michigan 4-H has been preparing youth to become global citizens for decades. In 2024-2025, Michigan 4-H is celebrating 50 years of partnership with States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (S4-H), a collaboration that has helped Michigan 4-H to conduct youth exchange programs with countries worldwide.

“Our international exchange programs help youth to become better global leaders,” said Janis Brinn, Michigan State University Extension 4-H leadership, civic and cultural engagement educator who serves as the international exchange programs coordinator for Michigan 4-H. “Participants learn to appreciate different cultures, gain knowledge about different parts of the world and build an understanding of ways our lives are all connected despite geographical distance.”

S4-H is a non-profit organization that works with the Cooperative Extension and 4-H Youth Development to conduct exchange programs with a network of international partners. Through collaboration with S4-H, Michigan 4-H sends both Michigan youth to other countries (outbound youth) and hosts international youth with Michigan 4-H families (inbound youth).

Since 1974, more than 150 Michigan 4-H youth have traveled outbound, visiting countries such as Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Norway and South Korea. Typically, youth travel over the summer for a term of four to six immersive weeks.

“Being an exchange student in Norway allowed me to experience incredible moments,” said Bethlehem C., a St. Joseph County 4-H’er who traveled to Norway in the summer of 2024. “Each experience broadened my horizons and deepened my appreciation for different cultures.”

Through S4-H, youth also have the opportunity to complete a year of school in another country through the Academic Year Program (AYP). Macomb County 4-H’er Jillian R. is Michigan’s first 4-H youth accepted into the highly competitive AYP program, and she is currently spending the school year in Japan.

“Everything has been going amazingly so far,” commented Jillian in one of her monthly reports. “My host family and I get along great. They show just as much interest in my culture as I do in theirs.”

Outbound travel is made more accessible to Michigan youth, thanks to annual 4-H International Travel Scholarships from the Michigan 4-H Foundation. These travel scholarships are made possible by the Michigan 4-H International Endowment Fund, created with gifts from Michigan 4-H exchange alumni and friends of 4-H international programs, and with support from the Michigan Division, Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association. Each year, four scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to support outbound 4-H exchange experiences.

“Michigan 4-H donors understand how formative international travel experiences can be to a young person and we’re grateful for the support that makes these scholarships possible,” said Abbey Miller, director of the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

For youth who do not wish to travel abroad, the cultural experience can come to them by hosting an inbound youth through S4-H. Many find this experience is as rewarding for the host family as the incoming young person.

“We are having a great time hosting,” said one host family. “When we take our international student someplace, we find we see things we thought we knew through different eyes.”

In 50 years of partnership with S4-H, Michigan 4-H hosted more than 3,100 international youth from 47 different countries. These include Georgia, Japan, Romania, Serbia, Taiwan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, among others. Most youth are hosted for a period of one month during the summer.

Regardless of the format, Michigan 4-H international exchange programs play a critical role in helping to prepare a generation of youth who are ready for anything in today’s globally connected world.

“Youth need the skills to connect with those who are different from them and to adapt to new experiences,” said Brinn. “4-H youth engaged in international exchange programs are developing language skills, increasing their cultural understanding and empathy, and expanding their global perspectives.”

To learn more about Michigan 4-H international exchange programs and how you can engage as an outbound student or inbound host family, visit www.canr.msu.edu/international_exchange_programs/.

To learn how you can support 4-H international programming and make these experiences possible for additional youth, contact Abbey Miller at 517-353-4433 or abmiller@msu.edu.