"The Youth Hostelling movement's commitment to Diversity"
The Toledo Declaration

In Toledo we are building upon the outcomes of the International Seminar on "Youth Hostels for Humanity and Tolerance" (Bonn, Germany, February 2003) and the International Seminar on "Youth Hostelling and Education through Sport for Young Fans and Players" (Lisbon, Portugal, April 2004), both of which were supported by  the European Union Youth in Action Programme.

Diversity refers to the harmonious integration and mutual acceptance of people from a wide variety of cultures, opinions, beliefs, sexuality, ethnic groups and/or socio-economic backgrounds. It also means the preservation of Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity and natural biodiversity.

The International Youth Hostelling movement has more than ninety years' experience of providing safe, secure, welcoming and affordable accommodation for hundreds of thousands of young people in their travels throughout Europe. The Youth Hostelling movement has a remarkable history, and is as relevant now, in terms of meeting the needs of young people, as it was in its foundation year of 1909. Today, the Youth Hostel network across Europe accounts for:

• More than 1,800 Youth Hostels across Europe (run on a not-for-profit basis, with prices kept as low as possible);   

• About 2.8 million members (many of whom are young people); and 

• More than 23 million overnight stays a year within Europe.

Youth Hostels are places where young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures can meet in a spirit of friendship and co-operation and develop their lives. The Youth Hostelling movement thereby fulfils a vital role in terms of facilitating youth mobility and promoting European integration. Enhancing cultural understanding among young people is central to the aims and objectives of the International Youth Hostelling movement. It is vital for the future of Europe, as  it is young people who are the citizens of tomorrow.

The International Youth Hostelling movement believes young people of Europe need to find their own way in life, but that we can and should help them by providing Youth Hostels that welcome all, and where every guest and employee is valued and treated with dignity and respect.

The European Union Federation of Youth Hostel Associations (EUFED), the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) and the national and regional Youth Hostel Associations share the commitment to:

• Provide a network of good quality Youth Hostels in places that young people want to visit; 
• Ensure that Youth Hostels provide a welcoming, accepting environment for people from different backgrounds;
• Establish programmes which reach out to young people, enabling those who are in one way or another disadvantaged to take part in the youth hostelling experience, as guests, as staff and as volunteers;
• Ensure that all young people have the opportunity to travel and to experience Europe;
• Emphasise the diversity of the Youth Hostels themselves, in terms of locations and buildings, and their links with the local community; and
• Demonstrate the commitment of Youth Hostel organizations to cultural and natural diversity, through, for example, provision of community facilities and environmental features at Youth Hostels.

San Servando Castle Youth Hostel, Toledo, Spain
27 November 2005