The hub for france-american exchange

C.I.F. France is an association governed by the French Law, 1901 and registered under n° 02-275 of the Association de Jeunesse et d’Education Populaire (Association for Youth and Popular Education). The French branch of the Council of International Fellowship (C.I.F.) was founded in 1966.

• The Council of International Fellowship was founded by the Cleveland nternational Program (C.I.P.) in 1962. C.I.F. is represented in 80 countries either by an organised branch (32 countries) or contacted through a contact person.

• The Cleveland International Program was founded in Cleveland in 1956 by a German lawyer, Henry Ollendorf, who fled Germany when the nazis came to power, and emigrated to the United States. The first exchanges to take place were between the USA and the Germany.

C.I.F’s. main target is to promote international exchanges among people working in the social field (social workers, care workers, social activity and entertainment organisers, etc...) as well as to enable a better understanding across cultural differences, and so encouraging the development of international friendships.

C.I.F. International aims at encouraging the establishment of country-based branches and supervising the exchange program organisation. It is essential that these training periods meet definite criteria, so as to ensure the best possible cultural, professional and personal exchanges.

Among the 32 countries which have a branch, France is one of the 16 countries to organise exchange program.