ABOUT THE INSTITUTE
Staff
Application
Contact
Links
Acknowledgments

 
 

 
ASIA PROGRAM

Introduction
Overview
Requirements
Itinerary
Asia Frequently Asked Questions
Program Fees
Application

Equipment List

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tricks of the Trade

American Consular:
India

British Consular:
India
Thailand

 

 

WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTE

The Institute for Village Studies is a non-profit educational organization engaging college students in a variety of projects led by villagers in Asia.

Our ongoing relationships focus on

  • Thais and Karen tribal people in Erawan National Forest, Thailand
  • Hindu villagers outside Varanasi, India
  • Tibetans in Dharamsala, India.

Students also study in other parts of India and Southeast Asia.

There are three components to every trip we take:

  • academic research in areas of individual student interest
  • personal exploration
  • internship and service to villagers and refugees.

History

The Institute emerged as an outgrowth of international tours.  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 villlagers and were invited to participated in village life.  They spoke; we listened. They asked us to help them; we workded side by side as they directed our ivolvement.  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 and exploration in developing nations. Our purpose is twofold:

first to provide high school and college students opportunities for independent research, studies in a variety of disciplines, and service in villages;

and second, to to expand educational choices for local children by teaching basic academic skills.