About Youth Hostels
The idea of hostelsOne hundred and eleven years ago, specifically in 1912 in the region of Sauerland in the Federal Republic of Germany, the idea of youth hostels was born by teacher Richard Sherman after a tiring school trip with his students who did not find shelter for them during their travel, so Sherman announced the establishment of the first hostel in the world, to spread the idea and begin to expand within Germany and gradually to most countries of the world.
After 60 years and under the leadership of Professor Belaid Dahmani, specifically on February 14, 1973, at the University of Tripoli, he officially announced the establishment of the Libyan Youth Hostels Association as a non-governmental institution that cares about young people, develops their skills, provides them with accommodation during their travel , and works to organize activities aimed at keeping pace with the youth renaissance in most countries of the world in that period.
About Youth Hostels
Libyan Youth Hostels AssociationThe association started with the simplest capabilities and launches its journey of establishing and building in all regions of the country to cover the largest category of Libyan youth.
The beginning was the establishment of the Tripoli Youth Hostel in 1973, followed by the hostels of Wedan and Shahat in 1975, the establishment of Sabratha Youth Hostel in 1976, the Ghadames and Sirte Youth Hostels in 1978, and the Fuguig Youth Hostel in 1979, and the foundation work continues to complete the mosaic of hostels with 58 hostels distributed throughout the country, attracting its youth and members, who exceeded ten thousand members of both sexes.
Hostel after hostel, activity after activity, generations pass down this ancient institution with its history and full of memories.
Fifty years witnessed many stations and periods of activity and stagnation, in which the founders, leaders, and members struggled to maintain an institution that is their second home, and despite all the circumstances that faced the Youth Hostels Association from lack of support, lack of capabilities and neglect of facilities, and the transformation of youth hostels from a joyful destination that attracts young people and embraces them to ruin, destruction and dens of corruption filled with misery and darkness.
But hopes were not disappointed and with the efforts of the leaders of the Libyan Youth Hostels Association, and with the announcement by the Government of National Unity of the plan ( return of life )in the year 2021 under the patronage of the Prime Minister and under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and its wise leadership, the hostel had a share in their reconstruction and development, and their facilities returned to life and give hope to the hearts of their youth, and the houses in the east, west and south witness the activity of their members and their songs.
The Libyan Youth Hostels Association not only resumed its activities at the local level, but also increased its activity at the regional level by hosting the General Conference of the Maghreb Union of Youth Hostel Associations in the capital of Libya, Tripoli, and crowning the association's efforts at the international level on the second of September 2022 by winning membership in the Board of Trustees of the International Youth Hostel Federation, the second largest global youth organization at the United Nations.
A rich history that the association carries with it and is witnessed by its homes in various Libyan cities, and history is still written by the hands of its children and members, and our generations inherit the love of hostels and the homeland.