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WHY DO WHAT WE DO?
Rachel Andresen served not only her state and country, but the world. Her reach was indeed global as she founded Youth for Understanding in 1951, and guided it for 20 years. Andresen believed that it was the young who were the best hope for building a peaceful world; Youth for Understanding was to be the main architect.
VIDEO: Rachel Andresen: Building a Peaceful World Through Our Youth
Widowed at the age of 28 and left with three children to support, Rachel Andresen moved beyond difficult circumstances to help found one of the most successful peace organizations in the world.
Educated as a teacher, Andresen earned her master's degree in social work and opened her family farm as a summer camp for children. While serving as Executive Director of the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw Council of Churches, she was asked to head up a program that would bring youth from war-torn Germany to live with an American family for a year, to help heal the wounds created by World War II.
"I wondered how it ever would be possible to rebuild what had been destroyed. Even more important, what had been damaged within people's lives and hearts. What could I ever do?"
– Rachel Andresen, in Europe in 1947
A group of 75 German visitors, ranging in age from 15 to 18, were selected to live in the U.S. The first year was so successful, the Council of Churches applied for and received permission to become the program's officials agency and renamed it "Youth For Understanding." Andresen was appointed its Executive Director, a position she held for 20 years.
Andresen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.
"I did not do it alone. There are people by the thousand who have given of themselves to make this dream come true. It became their dream, too." – Rachel Andresen
VIDEO: Rachel Andresen: Building a Peaceful World Through Our Youth
Widowed at the age of 28 and left with three children to support, Rachel Andresen moved beyond difficult circumstances to help found one of the most successful peace organizations in the world.
Educated as a teacher, Andresen earned her master's degree in social work and opened her family farm as a summer camp for children. While serving as Executive Director of the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw Council of Churches, she was asked to head up a program that would bring youth from war-torn Germany to live with an American family for a year, to help heal the wounds created by World War II.
"I wondered how it ever would be possible to rebuild what had been destroyed. Even more important, what had been damaged within people's lives and hearts. What could I ever do?"
– Rachel Andresen, in Europe in 1947
A group of 75 German visitors, ranging in age from 15 to 18, were selected to live in the U.S. The first year was so successful, the Council of Churches applied for and received permission to become the program's officials agency and renamed it "Youth For Understanding." Andresen was appointed its Executive Director, a position she held for 20 years.
Andresen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.
"I did not do it alone. There are people by the thousand who have given of themselves to make this dream come true. It became their dream, too." – Rachel Andresen