Programs

  • Cultural Exchange and Community Engagement

    IN A TYPICAL YEAR, AYH CHICAGO HOSTS TRAVELERS FROM MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES AND MORE THAN 90,000 GUEST STAY OVERNIGHTS ANNUALLY. THE HOSTEL IS PART OF THE AMERICAN YOUTH HOSTELS, INC. (AYH) NETWORK OF 14 HOSTELS NATIONWIDE. THE SHARED COMMUNITY MODEL AT OUR HOSTELS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND UNDERSTANDING AND NEW EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. THE 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, EXPANDING WORLD VIEWS, THAT HAVE AN ENDURING IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES AND THEIR WORLDS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Apr 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $5.1M

  • Guest Learning Programs and Cultural Immersion

    GUEST LEARNING PROGRAMS: THE AYH CHICAGO HOSTEL EXPERIENCE IS BASED ON THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL, ONE THAT ENCOURAGES IMMERSION, ENGAGEMENT, AND REFLECTION. INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TOURS, OUTINGS, AND IN-HOSTEL GATHERINGS DELIVERED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CREATE 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) VALUE LEARNING RUBRICS IN THE DISCIPLINES OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP. EACH YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE HOSTEL STAY PROGRAM, AYH CHICAGO DELIVERS MORE THAN 600 FACILITATED LEARNING PROGRAMS WITH OVER 7,500 PARTICIPATIONS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Apr 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $101.7K

  • Nationwide Signature Programs

    NATIONWIDE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: AYH CHICAGO PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL SCOPE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND NEW EXPERIENCES THAT CAN MAKE AN ENDURING DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR WORLDS. TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS GIVE 18 TO 30-YEAR OLD'S, WITH QUALFIEID FINANCIAL NEED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL WITHIN THE USA AND AROUND THE WORLD. SAY HI FOR PEACE ENGAGES HOSTEL GUESTS IN ACTIVITIES THAT CELEBRATE THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE AND EXPLORE HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A PEACEFUL SOCIETY. THE GREAT HOSTEL GIVE BACK PROGRAM OFFERS TO GROUPS OF SIX OR MORE PEOPLE AS 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 UNITED STATES, GERMANY, FRANCE, TUNISIA, LEBANON AND EGYPT FOR TWO WEEK HOSTEL BASED INTENSIVE DIALOGUE, TRAVEL AND REFLECTION. THESE AND OTHER SIGNATURE PROGRAMS PROMOTE CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND BUILD WORLD CITIZENS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Apr 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    –