Program areas at HI-USA
Hostel stay: ayh provides a network of 14 Hostels nationwide, and in a typical year hosts travelers from more than 80 countries with over 650,000 guest overnight stays annually. The hostel stay creates environment for cultural exchange and understanding and is fundamental to all other programs we offer. Each hostel is purposely designed with spaces and amenities that bring people together and encourage interaction in an inclusive and inviting way. We strategically develop and use spaces to deliver cultural exchange through experiential learning to our traveler guests and community members. As travelers get to know each other, they discover their similarities and differences, challenging stereotypes and social barriers, expand world views, and help to create a more tolerant world.
Nationwide signature programs: ayh delivers national scope programs that provide opportunities for people to enhance their intercultural understanding and contribute to a more tolerant world. Travel scholarships give 18 to 30-year old's, with qualified financial need, the opportunity to engage in educational travel within the USA and around the world. Say hi for peace engages hostel guests and community members in activities that celebrate the united nations International day of peace, in partnership with Hostels around the world and explore how they can contribute to a peaceful society. The great hostel give back program offers groups of six or more people an opportunity to receive a free night's stay at our Hostels during the months of january and february for each day their members volunteer in the surrounding community. Iou respect brings young people together from western and middle eastern countries including the us, germany, france, tunisia, lebanon and egypt annually for a two week hostel based exchange program that includes facilitated intensive dialogue, experiential learning activities, travel and reflection. These and other signature programs promote cross-cultural exchange, mutual understanding and tolerance.
Guest learning programs: ayh delivers experiential learning programs and activities in ayh Hostels to engage and facilitate the sharing of cultural perspectives among guests, and to connect guests with the local community. Through volunteer facilitation, programs provide guests with opportunities to better understand other cultures, create a sense of space and connection to local community and reflect on their own perspectives and understanding, taking actions consistent with their learnings. Program design is aligned with American association of colleges and universities (aacu) learning value rubrics in the disciplines of intercultural communication, civic engagement and global citizenship. Each year, in addition to the hostel stay program, ayh typically delivers more than 2,000 facilitated learning programs nationwide with over 25,000 participants.