Hostelling International 55 International Conference in Berlin 2024

 

International visit in the spirit of a pioneer  

High-ranking delegation of youth hostel representatives looks at the origins  

  tz_usingen3-B_133407

Hostel manager Mikula Fischer, DJH volunteer Josephine Fleig, Bahrain's chairwoman Saeeda Mohamed Aljawder,  Nataleah Juriah Amanda, Malaysia's President Hamirudin Hashim, Gudrun Schirrmann, Bahrain's vice-chairman Faisal Isa Alkhayyat, Hassan Al Mossawi and England's chairman James Blake (from left) in front of the Burma Bridge at the Grävenwiesbach youth hostel. PHOTO: Romahn  

Grävenwiesbach - On the occasion of the 150th birthday of Richard Schirrmann, founder of the German and International Youth Hostel Association, a high-ranking international delegation visited the youth hostel and the Richard Schirrmann Museum in Grävenwiesbach.  

Bahrain's Youth Hostel Association Chairwoman Saeeda Mohamed Aljawder and ViceChairman Faisal Isa Alkhayyat, Malaysia's President Hamirudin Hashim and England's CEO James Blake came to Grävenwiesbach from the 2024 World Youth Hostel Conference in Berlin, which was attended by association representatives from 60 countries.  

Personal dream comes true  

The delegation, consisting of eight people, visited Grävenwiesbach to get to know Richard  

Schirrmann's last hometown and his family, as well as to look at the life of the honorary citizen of Grävenwiesbach in Gudrun Schirrmann's private museum. Immediately after arriving at the youth hostel at Hasselborner Strasse 20, youth hostel manager Mikula Schiffer explained the experiential educational program of the 61-year-old facility and its significance for the youth hostel concept. "Without Richard Schirrmann's idea, we wouldn't exist, and his ideas are needed more than ever in today's world," Blake was almost inspired to look into history during his visit to the museum.  

For Hamirudin Hashim, the visit was also a very personal look into his own past. Almost 40 years ago, when he began working for the Malaysian Youth Hostel Association, Gudrun Schirrmann visited him in his hometown of Port Dixon. "It was a dream of mine to be able to take a look at the beginnings here in Richard Schirrmann's house." The open-air program at the Grävenwiesbach Youth Hostel is an important experience, especially for young people, especially in times when children around the world are increasingly losing their connection to nature. As chairperson of the Bahraini Youth Hostel Association, Saeeda Mohamed Aljawder is committed to the idea of peace and freedom for all people, which can be felt in the Richard Schirrmann Museum. "I would have liked to stay longer and will definitely come back here," she said, promising to keep in touch and take home lots of ideas and inspiration to create something new. Coming from a country surrounded by desert and water, the green nature in Grävenwiesbach made a special impression on the chairwoman of the board.   

More cooperation  

In her private museum, Gudrun Schirrmann showed her father's workplace. And she recalled numerous international encounters and highlighted examples of peace work.  

Bahrain's vice-chairman Faisal Isa Alkhayyat highlighted the current importance of the youth hostel idea and stressed his country and association's desire for more cooperation and international collaboration with all youth hostel associations. The visit and the knowledge gained here about the beginnings of the youth hostel idea allowed new visions to grow: "This is an idea of peace and calls for cooperation."  

Ms Gudrun Schirmann with Tn.Haji Hamirudin Hashim at Port Dickson YH in 1987

 

PERTUBUHAN ASRAMA ANTARABANGSA MALAYSIA
HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL-MALAYSIA (HI-MALAYSIA)

Registration PPM-005-14-15031957(1121 Selangor)
HI-MALAYSIA is a Member of Hostelling International

Previously known as
Persatuan Asrama Belia Malaysia
Malaysian Youth Hostels Association (MYHA)

Address: 1-7, Block B, Impian Kota Apartment, Jalan Manau, Off Jalan Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6 03 22736870 E-mail: contact@hi-malaysia.org.my