ABOUT THE INSTITUTE Staff Institute Evaluation Application Contact Links Acknowledgments Articles From Asia       ASIA PROGRAM Introduction India Overview Thailand Overview Requirements Itinerary Asia Frequently Asked Questions Program Fees Application   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Consular: Asia British Consular: Asia - India Nepal Thailand	WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTE The Institute for Village Studies, a non-profit educational organization, is currently engaging college students in a variety of projects led by villagers in Asia. We will be working with Thais in Erawan National Forest, Thailand Tibetans in Dharamsala, India Students will also study in other parts of India and Southeast Asia. The Institute emerged as an outgrowth of international tours with students from Spring Street School, in Friday Harbor, Washington. As we spent time traveling we moved inevitably towards villages because they created a more powerful experience for our students, giving them more of a flavor of the indigenous cultures we visited. We made friends with villagers and were invited to participate in village life. They spoke; we listened. They asked us to help them; we worked side by side as they directed our involvement. Over the course of time, we went from being friendly visitors to becoming helpful friends. Mission Statement Our mission is to provide learning experiences through service, exploration and study in developing nations. Our purpose is twofold: first to provide contracting educational groups with opportunities for independent research, studies in a variety of disciplines, and service in villages; secondly, to support community development opportunities defined by host villages.
	For more information, contact director@villagestudies.org or hope527@hotmail.com [Home] [Asia] [Application] [Contact]