University Exchange
In spring 2018 the twinning partners implemented the first ever Laja university student exchange with Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Irapuato, or ITESI. The ITESI students were funded by the Mexican government for their individual flights to the US, and Willamette partners hosted them a 3 month period at workshops, project sites, and in schools working with youth. The 2018 exchange was largely made possible by a private donor who contributed lodging and food extensive partner engagement, resources and volunteer capacity across the Willamette and in the Laja. We are in conversation with ITESI University and partners to evaluate the potential for 2020 cross-border university student exchanges. For more, please check out this Nature Resource Conservation Service feature here.