History

In 1909, the German schoolteacher Richard Schirrmann dedicated his time to make programs for his students to spend more time together. He started organizing pedagogical activities and then he organized groups of young people to go on small study trips. That’s how Prof. Schirrmann got the idea of creating an alternative to lodge the students, which was not only the overnight stay in hostelries.

Thus, the first hostel was founded in Altena, Germany, in 1912 and it’s still open until today. In 1932, the International Youth Hostel Federation was founded. This idea came to Brazil in the 1960s, a decade of the backpackers’ generation, of the hippie movement, and of the students’ movements worldwide.

In 1971, Brazil formed “Federação Brasileira de Albergues da Juventude” (Brazilian Youth Hostel Federation) and started being part of the Hostelling Movement. Currently, Hostelling International is the largest lodging net in the world, being present in the five continents.

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Mission

To promote cultural interchange

Philosophy

Our philosophy is that young people from around the world get to know different countries, cities, cultures and customs through Hostelling International and thus learning to respect the peculiarities of each people and to live in society, contributing to their formation. Hostels highly value friendship, solidarity and the longing to travel. Being a hosteller is especially loving freedom, and honoring human familiarity and respect. Hostelling’s success is in the mission and in the philosophy, which are rooted in this movement.

Select a title in the following list to know how Hostelling International was founded and how it is now.

Our Mission
How Hostelling began with Richard Schirrmann
Hostelling’s Global Growth
Hostelling and Young People
Hostels Developments
The Future of Hostelling International
The Environmental Charter

Our Mission

“To promote the education of all, but especially young people, from all nations, especially those with limited resources, stimulating them to a greater knowledge, affection and care with the environment, as well as to experience and appreciate cultures from other cities, both large ones and small ones from all around the world, and as a way of reaching it, to provide hostels or other class of accommodation where there is no distinction of race, color, nationality, religion, sex, social class or political opinions, so they can better understand their peers, both in their own country and abroad.”

This is our mission as stated in Article 2 of the Constitution of the International Youth Hostel Federation.

How Hostelling began with Richard Schirrmann

Created with the purpose of helping young people with limited resources to enjoy nature and cities around the world, hostels are now in the heart of international tourism for a much wider age group. The annual contribution of hostellers to get into the world tourism sector has already reached up to US$1.4 billion.

Since 1909, when a German schoolteacher called Richard Schirrmann who used to take his students to excursions created hostelling, it has become one of the largest international membership organizations for young people in the world, with over 3 million members and a philosophy that is more significant today than ever before.

Hostelling’s Global Growth

Currently, Hostelling International provides 35 million overnight stays a year in more than 4,000 hostels in more than 60 countries worldwide. It is very easy to make a reservation and you can do it online on this website.

Today’s hostellers are both likely to be in their thirties and drive their families here and arrive alone on foot with a backpack or be part of a school group. Nor is hostelling an end in itself. All-age hostellers use this way of traveling as a passport to cultural exploration and nature appreciation.

The economic, political and social environment surrounding hostelling has changed dramatically in the last century. The hostelling movement has spread not only in Europe but also all over the world and has fulfilled the expectations of today’s youth who have more money, more free time and a greater mobility than ever before.

Hostelling and Young People

The hostelling network allows young people from any nationality, culture and social condition to be in an informal environment, share experiences, and learn about themselves, about each other and about the surroundings. Hostels foster a remarkable awareness of international current issues.

Hostelling also plays a fundamental role in the development of young people as future employees in a global market. The hostel environment promotes social awareness and the importance of citizenship as a way of living in community. On the other hand, it helps developing self-discipline skills that result from experiencing different situations, making their own decisions, and learning with their consequences.

Young people have become very important tools to spread environmental concerns and they expect us to join them. Thanks to the continuing vigor of the youth hostel movement, we are living up to their expectations. And we will continue to do so as new generations are born, and as today’s young people become tomorrow’s hostelling families.

D Hostels Developments

Hostelling International struggles to promote the growth and the effectiveness of Youth Hostel Associations worldwide. Our mission is to broaden the network to new places, establishing the same practices and high standards everywhere, and stimulating the hostelling ethic by international promotion and co-operative activities. All revenue generated by our activities is reinvested, thus more profitable hostels help maintain those in more remote locations which might not otherwise be financially viable. Operating surpluses are also used to promote both physical and intellectual activities as well as increasing the environmental awareness among hostellers. Through these endeavors, Hostelling International continues to open up the world to youth and ensure a service that is consistently matched to contemporary needs.

The Future of Hostelling International

Hostelling International cooperates with governments and voluntary agencies of all countries to open up worldwide travel. Together, we encourage education in its broadest sense and enable everyone to experience new cultures in the most fulfilling way. Commercial organizations also play an important role and are also benefited by our ideals. By becoming corporate partners and supporting our work, they help us to develop our blueprint for a continuous success without compromising our essential principles or losing sight of our goals.

Young people undergo a lot of pressure these days. IYHF’s fight for its goals has never been more important or relevant, nor has there been a better time to ensure we will keep on pursuing these goals. With its unique structure and philosophy, and also the support of our corporate partners, the government and the young people themselves, the IYHF is in an ideal position to do so and to keep the world open to youth.

The Environmental Charter

The Federation seeks to encourage awareness and good practice among its member associations to enable the Youth Hostel Movement to play its part in environmental conservation. In order to enable achieving its goal, the Federation has established aims based on seven issues.

(1) Energy Conservation

Associations will periodically control its energy consumption, as energy production is the major reason for the reduction of natural resources, global warming, acid rain and changes in the weather. Attempts will be made to use as little energy as possible. IYHF will struggle to use renewable energy sources and will encourage projects to this end whenever possible.

(2) Recycling

Associations will commit themselves to the use of recycled or partly recycled products whenever economically feasible. So separate waste such as paper, plastic, batteries, bottles and cans demonstrates to young people and other hostellers, in a very visible way, that we take care of the use of our planet’s resources. Measures will be taken to ensure water quality and minimize wastage and leakage.

(3) Pollution

Associations will use reasonable means, including assistance from local authorities and other agencies, to minimize pollution. Disposal of waste, including litter, will be efficient and environmentally acceptable.

(4) Transportation

Associations will encourage the use of public transportation whenever they are practicable. Alternatively, car sharing will be encouraged. Detailed information on public transportation will be supplied at all youth hostels. Car borne hostellers will be encouraged to discover the surroundings by public transportation, bicycle or on foot. Long-term parking will be provided at hostels, whenever possible, to encourage this.

(5) Nature

Associations will support the formation of nature reserves, national parks, and other specially designated areas to provide both wildlife habitats and for public recreation. Associations will wherever practical reserve part of the hostel grounds for a “wild garden” where a great diversity of plants or weeds specific for a particular species of wildlife could be grown.

(7) Consumption

Associations will take into account environmental factors in purchasing. There is a whole range of products, which claim to be environmentally friendly; some have more significance than others depending on the local circumstances. Associations should be up-to-date about research in these areas in what is a rapidly changing scene.

Whenever possible use: recycled paper, locally grown food perhaps from the youth hostel’s own garden, appropriate building materials, including local or recycled materials where this is economically viable, and minimal amounts of chemical cleaning agents to ensure good health and hygiene.