Program:
Hostels and Related Programs and Activities
- Budget:
-
$10,792,106
- Category:
-
International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
- Population Served:
-
General Public/Unspecified
Program Description:
For more than 75 years, Hostelling International USA has been a leader in youth travel and recreational programming. Part of a worldwide movement that includes 4,000 hostels in 70 countries, HI-USA promotes intercultural exchange, and a conservation ethic through its hostels and programs across the United States. With a network of 65 hostels in the United States, HI-USA hosted about 1 million overnight stays last year. Designed to bring people of varying backgrounds together in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation, hostel stays break down barriers between people and encourage cultural sensitivity and understanding. Our vision is that hostellers become caring world citizens who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth.
Program Long-Term Success:
Our vision is that hostellers become caring world citizens, who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth.
Program Short-Term Success:
In the past five years, hostel overnights have increased more than 25%. In 2010, Hostelling International USA was named one of the top three hostelling associations in the world. Five of the ten top-rated hostels worldwide are HI-USA hostels. In fy2010, 100% of HI-USA hostels met Quality Standards.
Program Success Monitored by:
Comment cards and evaluations which evaluate facilities and programs and activities. Also a recent longitudinal attitudinal study shows that hostellers do consider themselves to be world citizens and are motivated to promote cultural understanding.
Program Success Examples:
An online survey of hostellers shows the following examples of program success:
· 74% indicate that they are actively promoting intercultural understanding
· 77% say that they are working hard to stop destructive stereotypes
· 88% think of themselves, not only as a citizen of their own country, but also a citizen of the world.
Program:
Opening Doors, Opening Minds Educational Programs
- Budget:
-
$926,104
- Category:
-
Youth Development
- Population Served:
-
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
-
Children Only (5 - 14 years)
Program Description:
HI-USA, through its regional councils and hostels across the United States, provides exciting and innovative educational programs, serving the needs of local youth and fulfilling the organization’s goal “To build a new generation of global citizens, unburdened by stereotypes, emboldened by open minds, appreciative of their own heritage and understanding of others, through the dialogue and education that comes through hostelling.”
In 2002, HI-USA launched a new educational initiative called Opening Doors, Opening Minds, in response to the tragedy of 9/11. These innovative programs reach out to local communities using interactive, experiential programming to expand upon the intercultural dialogue and understanding that happens in hostels around the world. Over the past eight years, hostels and regional councils have adopted these programs, providing a means for local youth to experience other cultures and to share their own heritage with others.
Cultural Kitchen programs introduce classrooms and youth groups ages 8-18 to foreign countries by participants independently studying a country’s culture and cuisine. The program culminates with an overnight at a hostel where the students cook a meal from their chosen culture and share it with international travelers. After dinner, they also present the country they have learned about through skits, dances, games, etc.
Community Walls programs encourage young people ages 8-18 explore and learn about their own community, heritage, and cultural norms. They collaboratively conceive of a way to artistically represent their community through the creation of a mural, which represents what they value most about who they are and where they live, to share with others. Completed Community Walls are unveiled to the community at a celebration, often at a local hostel. There, the murals are displayed so that hostel guests can learn about the community they are visiting through the eyes and voices of the local youth.
Program Long-Term Success:
Opening Doors, Opening Minds programs support hostelling's mission of increasing understanding. HI-USA's end goal is that hostellers (both travelers and community members involved in hostelling) have intercultural understanding and are active world citizens. Understanding one's own heritage and respecting the culture of others underlie our vision that "hostellers become caring world citizens who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth."
Program Short-Term Success:
Opening Doors, Opening Minds participants complete a survey and reflect upon their experience at the end of the program. Following are some results that tell us that our programs are working.
CK=Cultural Kitchen
CW=Community Walls
2010 results:
96% (CK &CW) agree: I respect other people's cultures.
86% (CK) & 89% (CW) agree: I will consider another person's point of view, even it it isn't like mine.
87% (CK) & 89% (CW) agree: I will tell others how important it is to respectfully interact with other people from other places.
80% (CK) & 90% (CW) agree: I will stand up for people who are prejudged because of their culture or community.
Program Success Monitored by:
We know that these programs are working both because of attitudinal changes reported by group leaders, and by the outcomes measured on survey instruments that are administered to all program participants at the end of the program. A few of the attitudes are reported above in short-term successes. We hope and believe that these will be long-term shifts in perception.
Program Success Examples:
Cultural Kitchen --
"Cultural understanding is a benefit because with it there will be less prejudice towards people who have different cultures. I know this because my Cultural Kitchen program taught me to accept new people, cultures, and experiences throughout my life. Learning about other cultures and learning to welcome new things is essential in today's world."
Ian, 17-years-old Chicago, IL
Community Walls --
“We are part of the Shia Imami Ismaili Community. The bright mosaic is like broken glass allowing you to have a look into our community. Inside you see our warmth through freshly baked cookies. We live together harmoniously, just as the music we listen to. The Ummah is like a blender full of ice cream mixing together our different flavors to create a new much tastier one. Our Ummah, based on the five pillars of Islam: Salat, Zakat, Hajj, Shahadah and Sawm, does not end here in Chicago but reaches believers all across the globe.”
Rogers Park, Chicago -- Girl Scout Troops 253 & 426
Program:
Travel Education
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
-
Education
- Population Served:
-
Adults
-
Female Adults
-
Female Youth/Adolescents (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
Offered in many communities across the United States, basic travel education seminars are offered to people of all ages, teaching them how to travel safely, affordably, and responsibly.
World Travel 101 is geared toward the novice traveler, college age and older, who is contemplating travel outside the United States.
Travel USA is geared toward high school and college students, sharing smart tips for affordable travel around the United States.
Women Traveling Solo is for women of all ages who are planning to travel on their own, but lack either the experience or the confidence. This seminar especially focuses on safety, as well as cultural sensitivity.
Trip Planning for Girl Scouts (and other youth groups) offers specially designed adaptations of the above seminars that are both age appropriate and tie into Girl Scout programs, goals, and values about travel. Special emphasis on cultural respect and safety.
Program Long-Term Success:
HI-USA encourages global awareness and cultural respect through its network of hostels and by encouraging and preparing people for travel. Learning to be a respectful and responsible traveler helps to ensure our vision that "Hostellers become caring world citizens, who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth."
Program Short-Term Success:
In 2010, 77% of program participants reported feeling comfortable about their ability to travel. 90% reported knowing why it is important to be culturally respectful when traveling.
Program Success Monitored by:
Travel education participants provide feedback through a self-administered evaluation form.
Program Success Examples:
Because of the success of the Trip Planning for Girl Scouts adaptation of World Travel 101, many local Girl Scout councils now require girls to participate in the HI-USA program before embarking on travel experiences.
Program:
IOU Respect
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
-
International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
- Population Served:
-
Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
Program Description:
IOU Respect is a formal international exchange program involving youth participants from the US, Germany, France, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. The program is an intensive interactive experience of living, sharing and learning together in an effort to bridge cultural divides, while visiting and experiencing the culture of one of the participating countries.
Program Long-Term Success:
IOU Respect program participants have life-changing experiences through the intensive two week program in which they live, learn, and share experiences together in a foreign country. Participants will promote cultural understanding and respect, demonstrating our vision that "Hostellers become caring world citizens who are catalysts for intercultural exchange and understanding, and who are stewards of the earth."
Program Short-Term Success:
IOU Respect program participants reflect their learning and changed attitudes at the end of their experience. Among many categories, notable are:
91% feel they improved their communications skills.
87% feel more comfortable communicating with people from other parts of the world and/or cultures.
74% know more more about how stereotypes are formed and what effects they have in the world.
95% are interested in acting for social change towards improved understanding among peoples and cultures.
Program Success Monitored by:
Surveys administered at the end of the IOU Respect program. Notes from the educator team leaders. Self-reported written reflections on the experience.
Program Success Examples:
“More than anything, I was amazed by the sense of openness and camaraderie that existed in the group. Despite coming from often very different backgrounds, everyone came into the program with an open mind and heart, eager to listen, learn and share. The program created such a safe space, we were all able to speak openly and honestly about anything. I've never felt so close to so many people in such a short amount of time. We met each other, and then looked up and two weeks had already passed us by. From icebreakers and dialogue sessions to exploring Morocco's medinas to late night dance parties to sharing sumptuous tagines filled with lamb or couscous, IOU Respect Morocco 2010 created the space and opportunity for understanding, respect and friendship. I am so grateful to have been a part of this program. The things I learned and experienced and the people I met while in Morocco will stay with me, making me think and grow into better a global citizen.”
Alexandra Ellis, Brookline, MA, 2010 IOU Respect participant