Thank You!
**Note, we changed our name in 2021 to be more reflective of our mission. Institute for Village Studies started in partnership with Western Washington University in 1999, and we look forward to carrying on this work as InPlace - Ecocultural Learning Institute.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As many of you know, I have recently stepped down as the Director of IVS. It was a very difficult decision, but ultimately other career and personal interests have been pulling me towards a new direction.
During our seven years together, I think we can all be very proud of what we have accomplished as a team:
We created new five study abroad programs in India, Nepal, Thailand, Burma, and Kenya, providing hundreds of students with transformative educational experiences.
Many of our students have gone into Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and careers aimed at making the world a better place.
We deepened our relationships with existing partners and developed new incredible friendships with communities all over the world.
Our programs invested approximately $750,000 into local economies.
We supported community-led efforts to build artificial glaciers and water reservoirs, protect indigenous land rights, provide disaster relief, wildlife conservation, and implement culturally-appropriate education projects.
None of this would have been possible without your hard work, support, and guidance. We might not be the largest organization or have the most resources, but I firmly believe together we set the standard for what ethical cross-cultural educational programs should be.
The new Director, Ashley Hollenbeck, comes with deep experience both with cross-cultural education programs and international community development. Under her leadership, I am tremendously excited about the future for IVS and what it will accomplish!
Thank you for all of your support over the years. It has been an honor and privilege working with each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
Charlie Ashbaugh