The best way to build a better world is by investing in its next generation of leaders. That belief is at the heart of HI USA’s IOU Respect program, and its power was evident during my recent visit to Egypt, where I met with this year’s program participants from the U.S. alongside their peers from five other participating countries.
IOU Respect is a collaborative initiative between hostelling associations in Egypt, France, Germany, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the United States. These organizations work together to deliver a program rooted in the values of cultural learning, teamwork, mutual respect, and leadership development. Each country selects a group of young adults aged 18-26 through a competitive application process. These participants then come together for two weeks of facilitated dialogue and shared experiences in a host nation — this year, in Egypt (the U.S. last hosted the program in 2022).
While HI USA provides stipends to help cover travel costs for the program’s American participants, what these young Americans bring to the table is far more valuable: their character, their drive, and their commitment to representing their country with integrity. They’re not just traveling — they’re stepping into leadership roles and learning to navigate other cultures while staying grounded in their values.
I had the privilege of attending the final day of the 2025 program in Egypt, which concluded with a dinner cruise along the Nile River — a fitting tribute to the journey these young leaders from the six nations had taken together. As the boat pushed off, conversations flowed.
I was surrounded by a remarkable group of smart, articulate, and motivated young people, each from different backgrounds and cultures, who had begun to see the world through one another’s eyes. What started as a cultural exchange had evolved into something deeper: a breaking down of stereotypes, a building of trust, and a reimagining of what the future can look like.
IOU Respect doesn’t claim to solve the world’s problems, but it does equip young people with the empathy, skills, and informed perspectives they’ll need to face them. It’s a program that fosters active leadership not just through learning, but through lived experience.
In a world too often divided by fear and mistrust, IOU Respect reminds us that meaningful dialogue is where connection begins, and that respect, once extended, strengthens communities and ripples far beyond borders.