Making a difference

The EF staff, representatives and volunteers that are involved in our student exchange program agree that bringing people together, teaching about new cultures and languages and making a difference in students' lives is inherently worthwhile.

The same can be said about making the world a better place. That is why EF High School Year and EF Foundation are dedicated to making a positive difference. We believe that positive change is possible, one student at a time and one charitable project at a time.

Mentor Foundation

EF is a founding member of the Mentor Foundation and has been a dedicated sponsor for the past 10 years. Mentor is a nonprofit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, that works with the United Nations and the World Health Organization to prevent drug misuse and promote the health and wellbeing of young people around the world.

EF's founder Bertil Hult, founded the Mentor Foundation together with Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Mr. Hult has worked actively on the board of directors for over seven years. You can find more information about the Mentor Foundation at www.mentorfoundation.org

Red Cross

Over the course of more than 40 years, EF and EF's owner Bertil Hult, have donated millions of dollars to the Red Cross to support the organisation's mission. Some of the bigger contributions include:

• US$800,000 in disaster assistance to aid victims of the earthquake that struck China in 2008 and the cyclone that devastated Myanmar that same year. The Red Cross used some of these funds for immediate relief efforts, and some of the funds will go towards long term reconstruction efforts designed to rebuild schools in the affected areas.
• US$300,000 for relief efforts in Southeast Asia in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.

Local Charities and Community Outreach

Around the world, EF Education participates in many local charitable endeavors. For example, EF provides English tuition to people in Brazil who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford English lessons.

In 2001, EF Foundation donated US$50,000 to New York firefighters in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

In Australia, EF High School Year is a proud supported of Australia's biggest morning tea, Jeans for Genes day and various other local charities.

Community Outreach

EF, which has offices in more than 50 countries around the world, encourages its employees to participate in volunteer opportunities. Some of these volunteer opportunities take place during work hours. They serve as a way for us to give back to the many local communities where we have offices and staff.

EF also supports various community events, such as the March of Dimes in Boston, where EF staff take part in the March for Babies, which supports programs and research dedicated to saving premature babies.

Volunteer Trips

Because EF is a leader in international education and cultural exchange, its employees are dedicated to making a positive difference in every corner of the globe. For this reason, EF employees are given the opportunity to participate in volunteer trips to other countries. For instance, in November 2007, EF staff members traveled to Guatemala to volunteer at an orphanage for boys outside Guatemala City. In November 2008, and enthusiastic group of EF employees traveled to Brazil to participate in a local charity project.

Charitable Matching

EF has committed to matching employee-raised charitable donations. When an EF employee submits a copy of a donation receipt, along with a donation form, EF sends a check of corresponding value to the benefiting organization.