by Trung Quang Doan, Dean of English Department, Hanoi University Giang and Trung with Bob Motsay (middle) and the Philadephia skyline behind them It's always a privilege to hear from REI Exchange Fellows in their own words. Take a few minutes to enjoy learning from Trung and Giang, who came to the U.S. in November-December 2025. We hope you will consider how you too can have a lasting impact by choosing to host an exchange fellow like them. I currently serve as the Dean of t

by Tai Toon Lim, a professional manager with extensive experience across public, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and REI (Singapore) board member I’ve always believed that the most meaningful work we do is the work we do in people. That conviction has been shaped over decades in my career, where I learned — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — that developing people doesn’t happen by chance. It has to be intentional, relational and lifelong. So when the opportunity came

Steve Estes, Principal Technical Program Manager, Mastercard    When was your first short-term trip with REI? October 6-15, 2024 What motivated you to do this with REI? My wife and I were familiar with REI as donors and through our relationship with Brian and Ginny Teel (former REI Director of Advancement). During one of their visits to St. Louis, Brian and Ginny told us that I might be a fit for a new project with universities in Central Asia. I was intrigued by the possibil

by Dr. Walter Lee, MD MHS, Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences Duke University Medical Center The Exchange Fellowship Program represents a cornerstone of REI's mission to build people who build nations. This fall, I had the privilege of hosting two exceptional physicians from Vietnam: Dr. Quynh Anh Nguyen from the Department of Otolaryngology at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, and Dr. Huu Ngoc Minh Phan from the Department of Otolaryngology at Hue Univers

by Brian Teel, former REI Vietnam Country Leader REI was created to bring a real exchange of ideas and understanding – to bring professional training, focused on equipping nationals to train others as they work together to build their communities and countries – while we receive deepened cultural understanding and refinement to why we do what we do the way we do it. This is just a glimpse into how REI got started building one of its most effective programs in helping to bring

by Randy Bruins, Field Staff, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Business Team leaving leaving Almaty and heading to Oskemen: (l-r) Ron and Jeanine...

by James Kang, Country Leader, Vietnam   I wasn't sure how to title this. Kathie Cowie is one of REI’s longest-serving volunteers to...

by Kathryn Cleveland, Short-Term Professional Business Team Volunteer   “Where on earth is Kazakhstan?” was people’s first response....

By Dr. Laura Bishop, OB-GYN physician and vice president of medical staff, Baptist Women's and Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee,...

REI’s Central Asia Regional Leader, Ron Wiley, PhD , took some time to answer our questions about the strategy behind bringing in...