Hostel owners love to take on volunteer travellers and I agree that it's a good idea, they are energetic, educated and lots of fun.
However anyone who has been hostelling in less fortunate countries will have seen things that make them feel that they want to do something and not know how. The simple truth is that social problems don't get cleared up overnight nomatter how many hand outs are given, but there is a way to start.
I would like to change this and my intentions are best described with an example: In a small town in Bulgaria there is a fantastic Hostel that will go unnamed. They are owned by an American, run by British and German staff and volunteers, they make plenty of income and have a good reputation. Outside this hostel there are local kids leaving the Orphanages at 18 years old with nowhere to go, no experience or education and no money. Most of the time their only choice is to go into crime or drugs, thus restarting the circle of social problems.
As hostel owners we can take a brief look out of our windows and think, is there somebody in this community I can help? Is there some way that my hostel can be used to give someone experience and education in a thriving industry? If the answer is yes then please, I urge you to reach out to those people. Forget the risks and worries that you would have, because if you can help just one person then you have created not only an amazing oppertunity for someone, but you have created a hostel that cares.
In 20 years you will regret the things that you didn't do more than the things that you did.
Thankyou for reading
12 years
...because if you can help just one person then you have created not only an amazing oppertunity for someone, but you have created a hostel that cares.
That's a great idea. I will mention this thread in the next email newsletter.
The world is a rough place and we should all be helping each other out.
12 years
Thankyou, please spread the word. This idea is what made me sure I wanted to run a hostel. I intend to take the campaign further when I can.
Cheers.
Toby
12 years
All hostels have the possibility and the task to help people. In fact not just hostels, but everyone. We could exchange some ideias thinking about how to change some people´s life. The simple "social inclusion"is difficult tu put on practice. First off all, forget about all your prejudices and open your mind for new experiences of life, new histories, new everything....More than we can teach his people, I think that they have a lot to teach us.....I suggest that all hostels should be open to social projects, and much more...they should include this "les fortunate" people to their Staff...this will really change their lifes....not that we need to prepare everything and give them a job just because they are "poor".....we need to create tools to teach "how to fish" and not give the fish....I´ll do it at our hostels...and You??? If you wanna exchange ideas, i´m open to it!!! Cheers!!
Related Pages
Log in to join discussion