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  China
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  Djibouti
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  Egypt
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  Indonesia
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  Jordan
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  Kazakhstan
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  Kyrgyzstan
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  Laos
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  Vietnam

Where does REI Work?

REI desires that its work be authentic, holistic, and sustainable. Our 60+ long-term staff and countless volunteers sincerely care about the people and nations among whom they serve, and they are committed to excellence, integrity, and authenticity.

Currently, REI’s staff and volunteers work in nine emerging countries in four regions of the world: Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Learn more about how REI is "building people to build nations" by reading our country profiles below!

Note: Click on the country name to read a brief description of the country on BBC News online.

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  China

  Dr. Steve J. Kulich and his wife, Dr. Anne Kulich, have been working to develop people in China since 1988 and in Shanghai since 1993 (this year marks 30 years in Asia for Steve). While Anne has been serving as consulting physician for the German Consulate, Steve has focused his efforts on launching intercultural programs at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). He received his first grant from REI in 1995 for "Advancing Intercultural Communications (IC) in Shanghai, China." REI has continued to fund projects related to values and identity studies and intercultural teaching and research at SISU. These helped in the development of IC Master’s degree programs, which also led to the establishment of the university level SISU Intercultural Institute (SII) in 2006. Since 2002, 144 students have graduated with an MA in IC. Steve also oversees the nation's first IC Ph.D. program, an MBA program focused on intercultural, international and ethical management, and IC-related initiatives in several colleges and departments under the motto "Developing a Discipline to Develop People."

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  Djibouti

  REI has several resident staff members working in Djibouti City, developing human resources in partnership with local organizations, such as the University of Djibouti and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Country Directors Tom and Rachel Jones are joined by Hannah Cowell, and Ethan and Annie Chan.

  REI Djibouti focuses primarily on helping the French-speaking Djiboutian people improve their English language skills so its service-based economy can grow. At the University of Djibouti (UD), Djibouti’s only institution of higher learning, REI provides English Language educators to fill the teaching gaps in UD’s English program. REI has played an important part in helping this institution train the next generation of teachers and professionals. Through REI’s partnership with UD, UD has opened an institute for English proficiency, has become an English proficiency testing center, and has started to pursue becoming an English teacher certification institution.

  REI is also involved in helping to strengthen the local populace in business, sports, emergency food distribution, material donations, and microfinance. REI staff members have also partnered with another development organization to distribute 8,000 kits of school equipment to children.

  However they serve, the REI Djibouti staff is on a mission to build human capacity, affecting their communities for the better and promoting the exchange of ideas, culture, and resources.

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  Egypt

  REI’s staff member in Cairo, Egypt has served with REI since 2008, and has a rather unique role with REI. Although she works primarily with women―coordinating quilting clubs as a form of micro-business and teaching infant care to new mothers―she also works with both genders, offering training in photography and serving the urban poor in Cairo’s famed “Garbage City.” Her work has garnered the praise of local religious and civic leaders.

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  Indonesia

  Agricultural Economist Charles Nicholson (PhD) and his wife Katie live and work in Bandung, Indonesia, partnering with international business professional David Webb and his wife Lynn. They work to alleviate local poverty and preserve local mango groves through establishing a new industry for producing and marketing dried mangoes. So far the venture has created 30 jobs. They partner with local groups of farmers to produce the dried mangoes, thereby addressing a surplus of mangoes in the area, doubling the income of the farmers involved in the project, and preserving local resources, such as land and mango groves. The product was launched successfully in domestic markets, and REI's staff plans to launch the product in international markets in the near future. They have established a new manufacturing company to support this endeavor, PT SunRei Food Products―all for the development of national human resources, for the preservation of natural resources and for the benefit of the local economy.

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  Jordan

  REI's staff in Jordan conduct seminars for both expatriates and Middle Easterners in Business Writing Skills, Effective Presentations, CV Writing and Interview Skills, English Skills Training for Hotel and Restaurant Employees, Conversational English Courses, Computer Skills, Journalism, English Competency Testing, Proofreading and Editing Services, Human Resources, and SAT Preparation Courses―all in an effort to build people to build nations.

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  Kazakhstan

  REI’s work in Kazakhstan has varied over the years, depending on assessed needs. REI staff members teach English to nationals and Russian and Kazakh to expatriates. They have provided micro-loans and business training in rural villages. They developed the nationally-renown Kazakh English Language Theater (KELT) for students, sponsored through the local university, KIMEP. ORKEN, a Kazakh nonprofit organization begun by REI staff, contains the Community Development Department, the Kazakh / Russian Language Center, the Linguistic Research and Publications department, the English Language Center, and the Human Resources Development department. All these services are offered to nationals and expatriates in their area.

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  Kyrgyzstan

  Randall and Rory Gwin and their children serve with REI in Kyrgyzstan. Rory is a medical doctor who volunteers at a local clinic, serving nationals and expatriates. She also mentors a national MD and volunteers at a local homeless clinic. Until just recently, Randall operated a local English language school, where he trained national teachers to teach English (building people), who then teach English to nationals at the school (building nations). The school also teaches Kyrgyz, Russian, and Chinese to foreigners.

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  Laos

  REI has worked in Laos since 2006, led by REI President and CEO, Roderick Beidler, and resident staff Dr. Craig and Patsy Kent, who together coordinate the efforts of short-term volunteers. Craig is developing a general surgery residency program, with the goal of training hundreds of Laotian surgeons. Ann and Bill Munson, along with Patsy Kent―all certified English Language teachers - teach four levels of basic English and are developing a course in medical English. Roderick teaches courses in Executive Leadership and Management to hospital department heads and key hospital administrators. REI volunteers, under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Ho, offer training in basic sanitation and hygiene, development of pediatric treatment protocols, quality improvement and quality assurance, neonatal resuscitation, and basic and advanced neonatal oxygen therapy to the hospital’s pediatric doctors and nurses. As word of REI’s outstanding training has spread, additional local hospitals have asked to be included in the training provided at Mittaphab Hospital.

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  Vietnam

  REI has served in Vietnam since 1992 making it our oldest and most established program. Since its beginning, over 360 professionals from nine nations have served with REI-Vietnam, including 22 staff members who have lived in Hanoi for one or more years. During this same time-frame, nearly 80 Vietnamese professionals have been brought to the United States as “REI Fellows” for observational training fellowships. Our REI staff professionals serve in such fields as English Education, Teacher Training, Medicine, Social Work, Agronomy & Veterinary Sciences, and Business. The single factor that links our projects and staff together is our unwavering commitment to invest in Vietnamese professionals and future leaders by emphasizing professional excellence within an environment of deepening interpersonal relationships.

  To learn more about REI in Vietnam, visit their website here.