The U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag are proud to recognize Julian Gsinn as the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) German Participant of the Month! Julian, a CBYX Young Professional program participant from Bavaria, Germany, was placed by Cultural Vistas in St. Louis, Missouri, where he lives with the Perkins family.
A fellow CBYX participant nominated Julian for his commitment, creativity, and dedication -- and how Julian sets a great example of what the CBYX stands for. Julian’s accomplishments include starting a podcast called “Bavaria Meets America” with another CBYX participant, explaining key aspects of the program and sharing insights from his time in the United States. In addition, Julian was named to the Dean’s List at St. Louis Community College for his leadership and academic excellence during the fall semester, and he has been selected as one of the 65,000 volunteers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During the spring internship phase of his program, Julian is working at the charity organization which raises funds for children facing serious illnesses. The founders have a unique approach: they use their privately-owned sports car collection to host fundraising events throughout the year. Julian is highly motivated to support the cause and shares, “The founders have made my year in the United States even more special by opening many doors for me and introducing me to inspiring people.”
Julian volunteers with several organizations in his host community, including the Veterans Housing Project. He initially became involved because he had some construction experience from Germany. He notes, “Seeing the veterans move into the finished units made me very happy—especially knowing that these small homes were built largely by volunteers. Having a safe place to live allows them to focus on building a brighter future, such as finding new jobs and reconnecting with their community.”
Julian is grateful for the CBYX program, which he says has encouraged him to take on new opportunities – like trying out to be a volunteer for the World Cup. He is now completing his training for the first matches in June, where he will be part of the hospitality team at the stadium. “I am incredibly excited about this opportunity, which was only possible because of the CBYX program. I’ve learned that there are so many opportunities available if you stay open-minded and creative. Sometimes you just have to take the chance and try—that’s the most important part.”
Julian is thankful for his host family, Elizabeth and Brian Perkins, who he says have supported him "far beyond what is required.” From being able to connect with many great people at church, while volunteering, and at events – including both members of Congress representing the St. Louis area, Julian says he truly believes that many of these relationships will last a lifetime. “These experiences have shown me how open and welcoming people can be, and they have made my time in the United States feel more like home.”
Congratulations, Julian!