Supporting Youth Programs

Help us build a stronger global community and cultivate future world leaders!

HI-USA develops and delivers educational programs that promote cross-cultural understanding and a stronger world community. These programs enrich the hostelling experience and foster hostelling as a lively cross-cultural exchange with an educational impact on the travelers, as well as local and global communities.

Examples of these programs include:

IOU Respect, the HI-USA global exchange visit program, focuses on bringing together young people from Western and Islamic countries for structured learning experiences in hostels. Geared towards youth ages 18 to 24, the exchange programs encourage participants of diverse backgrounds to share their homeland and cultures, speak of their hopes and expectations, and work collaboratively on activities together, all while staying in youth hostels.

Cultural Kitchen, the HI-USA community outreach program, enables young people ages 8 to 18 to learn about a culture that is new to them, beginning with learning about a country and culture, and culminating with a hostel overnight stay. While at a hostel, participants make an authentic meal of the chosen culture and interact with international travelers. School classes, scout troops and community groups all participate in the program.

If you have any questions about supporting HI-USA or need assistance with making a donation, please contact us at 888-449-8727 or giving@hiusa.org.