Hostelling International's 2-week program seeks 4 American participants

Young adults with an interest in exploring cultures vastly different from their own are invited to apply for IOU Respect, a 2-week international exchange program hosted by Hostelling International (HI). Open to 18-23 year olds from Egypt, France, Germany, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the United States, this intensive educational program takes place in Cairo and Ismailia, Egypt, from July 24-August 6, 2016.  Applications are accepted through May 15, and 4 Americans will be selected. (Note: all photos in this article from  IOU Respect 2015 Paris.)

IOU Respect is designed to increase participants' knowledge of other cultures, develop their skills for intercultural communication, and foster attitudes that promote mutual understanding and tolerance. Participants from the 6 countries will engage in a mix of facilitated dialogue sessions, team-building project work, and group outings and activities.

This year's program will be held at HI hostels in Cairo and Ismailia, Egypt, and participants will have the opportunity to explore the local area with one another.  Guests from more than 100 countries stay in HI hostels each year, arriving as strangers and leaving as friends, so the hostel setting is strategically leveraged to enhance the IOU Respect experience.

"IOU Respect breaks down barriers and helps participants build lasting relationships on a foundation of appreciation, respect, and understanding," says HI USA CEO Russ Hedge.  "Participants consistently describe their experience as life-changing."

There is no cost to apply and all costs for the program are covered once participants arrive in Egypt. In addition, American participants will receive a $500 stipend to reimburse them for some of their transportation costs following successful completion of the program.

For more information and eligibility, visit www.hiusa.org/iourespect or contact Netanya Trimboli, HI USA Communications and PR Manager, at netanya.trimboli [at] hiusa.org.   
 

About HI USA
Hostelling International USA (HI USA) is a nonprofit, member organization founded on an enduring belief in the power of travel to foster a deeper understanding of people, places, and the world around.  It's our mission to promote a dynamic community of global citizens who have the wisdom and humanity to actively make the world a better place.  As the nation's leading hostel brand, HI USA hosts more than 1 million overnights annually, with guests from more than 100 countries.  For over 80 years, HI USA has provided a network of affordable hostels in converted mansions, reinvented lighthouses, and historic urban buildings all across the country. Visit www.hiusa.org for more information.

HI USA is part of Hostelling International (HI), a collection of more than 4,000 hostels worldwide, whose roots stretch back to the beginning of the hostelling movement more than 100 years ago. The HI brand is a seal of approval recognized around the world.