Our organization

Open Door International e.V. (ODI)  is a non-profit organization seated in Cologne, Germany, which wants to promote peaceful living together of people and through youth exchange. Within the frameworks of the AJA (“Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustauschorganisationen”, working group of German non-profit youth exchange organizations) we oblige to maintaining a variety of quality standards:

World-wide Exchange

ODI is keen to offer a broad range of countries all over the world, in order to encourage and support the international exchange of different cultures. It is equally important to us to offer both outbound and inbound programs.
In our outbound programs, we work with responsible and competent partner organizations, who have also subscribed to international understanding. Our program coordinators have visited most of our partners abroad, and have established a trusting relationship through long-term cooperation.

Public Charity

It is the goal of Open Door International e.V. to promote peaceful co-existence of people all over the world.
We are recognized as a non-profit organization and use our surplus for scholarships, program development as well as educational benefits.
Our work is based upon the commitment of our volunteers all over Germany, who do voluntary service work for our organization.

Voluntary Commitment

Open Door International e.V. exists on the commitment and enthusiasm of its voluntary contributors.
Often, our voluntary contributors are former participants of our programs or host families, who have all experienced and enjoyed intercultural exchange, and who now want to further intercultural understanding.
The experience of our voluntary contributors enables them to individually and conscientiously care for host families, exchange students, applicants as well as returnees. Our nationwide network of contributors is a perfect platform for intercultural exchange. Experiences can be shared with others, and they can be applied and passed on within the realms of international youth exchange. Our annual training workshops continually enhance the quality of our work and strengthen the team spirit of our organization.

Choosing Host Families

Life in a host family in a foreign country is a great challenge for many exchange students. For them as well as for their parents it is very important that they are placed an open, trust-worthy and dependable host family. Therefore, the careful placement of our students is one of the main components of our work.
We carefully choose our host families and visit every family before placing a student in their home. The families’ true interest in intercultural exchange is at the center of attention, just as well as their wish to integrate a young student from a different culture into their family. Only if all criteria are met do we accept them into our program.
When choosing host families, every form of discrimination on the basis of race, religion or social status is prohibited for all members of the AJA.

Open Door International e.V. is a non-profit organization which attaches great value to an individual and competent care for all its students. Therefore, our program coordinators personally meet all of the participants as well as their parents at the respective orientation seminar of their program.