Staff and volunteer opportunities have made possible international experiences for over 600 Extension staff members and volunteer 4-H leaders. These programs help meet Extension's objective of providing training for U.S. Extension staff and volunteers and their counterparts from other countries. Following several years of negotiation, an exchange with the Soviet Union was initiated through National 4-H Council and the U.S. Department of State. 4-H had initiated discussions with Soviet officials as early as 1962. A group of 4-Hers visited the People's Republic of China during the year of 1982.
Projects are currently under way in Jamaica and Panama.
Many programs have been enhanced and supplemented by National 4-H Council in support of states involved with organizations such as Partners of the Americas. For example, YDP and IFYE Representative delegates have often been assigned to countries where a state has a partner relationship. This was the first time the pledge had been officially changed, although the action was principally a recognition of what many states already had done on their own. It is conservatively estimated that over 100,000 young people are engaged in some 4-H international activity annually. International educational projects and host family experiences help people learn about different cultures without leaving their own communities.