In 1957, a representative of the International Youth Hostels Federation called upon Lady Dusdi Malakul, the President of the Thai Women's Volunteer Association, and asked her to start a youth hostel project in Thailand. The association reported the matter to the Ministry of Education and had their approval to start a youth hostel project under the auspices of the Women Volunteers Association. In July of 1960, the Department of Highways allowed the youth hostel project to use two buildings on a hill near the Phra Buddha-Chaya Temple at Saraburi as the 3rd youth hostel in Thailand. Since 1909, when hostelling was born out of the excursions of German school teacher, Richard Schirrman, and his pupils, it has become the world's biggest membership organization for youth , with over 4 million members and a mission that has never been more relevant.
Youth hostels encourage activity and awareness.
They stimulate guests to think about their responsibility to protect nature and preserve cultural values. They will continue to do so as new generations are born, and as today's youth become the hostelling families of tomorrow. Hostelling International forters the growth and effectiveness of the Youth Hostel Associations worldwide. Our mandate is to expand the network to new areas, establishing the same practices and high standards every where,and stimulate the hostelling ethic by international promotion and cooperative activities. Through these endeavours, Hostelling International continues to open up the world to youth and ensure a service that is consistently matched to contemporary need and serve the goal it has always strived after.