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This September, in the lead up to the International Day of Peace on the 21st, we’re daring you to ‘press play’ while you travel.
Because play sparks human connection.
And connection builds a more harmonious world – one “HI,” one laugh, one card game at a time.
With 30+ countries taking part, our digital Connection Cards make it easy for travellers to connect, swap stories, and build bridges.
Because peace doesn’t start in boardrooms.
It starts with you.
Peace.
Feels like a big word. Too big sometimes.
Like something reserved for world leaders or breaking news headlines. Just too far off and too hard to reach.
But what if peace didn’t have to be some distant, daunting goal?
What if it started small?
Say HI for Peace is Hostelling International’s global campaign to bring people together – and this year, we’re doing it through play.
Because in a world that’s tense and divided, connection is a form of resistance. And play is how we spark it.
Say HI for Peace is back – and this time, we’re bringing connection to life through the power of play.
Since 2013, Say HI for Peace has been all about human connection. No borders. No politics.
Just real people meeting other real people over breakfast, in bunk beds, by sharing stories from their side of the world.
In 2025, the campaign gets a fresh twist.
It’s time to level up. We’re playing for peace.
Play for Peace is this year’s theme for Say HI for Peace, our annual campaign to bring people together and drive something bigger.
Sure, peace can feel like a big, serious word. But it doesn’t always have to conjure thoughts of politicians or headlines.
Why not start with a card game? Or maybe a little jam session? And come on, who doesn’t love a game of Jenga or two?
Because when we play, we open up. We drop our defences. We see each other – human to human.
The world is moving fast. It’s loud, it can feel divided and connection feels rare. Many young people are shouldering that weight. Studies show that young people who participate in games (such as team sports) report 10% lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to those who don’t.
That’s why Play for Peace matters. Because when we carve out space to play, we open the door to connection. We get to breathe, relate and feel like we belong. Those moments, that change, are what peace looks like in action.
👆Find events near you 👆
Tag your stories with #SayHIforPeace and sign up to the newsletter for peace-powered updates and playful ways to get involved.
We would like to thank all our partners and member organisations who support us in making this campaign a global success. In particular, we would like to thank those who have kindly donated prizes for our social media giveaway (launch on September 2nd):
Airalo, Eurosender, EYCA, Hostelling International Canada, Suomen Hostellijärjestö’ (Finnish Hostel Association), Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse, Auberges de Jeunesse Luxembourgeoises, Stayokay (HI in the Netherlands), Hostelling International Norway/Norge, Red Espanola de Albergues Juveniles (HI in Spain), Schweizer Jugendherbergen (Swiss Youth Hostels), HI USA
