Galen Beery Legacy Exhibit

IVS + USAID

The International Voluntary Services: A Journey of Cooperation and Challenges in Laos

International Voluntary Services (IVS), established in 1953, created a path of international cooperation and development, especially in rural Laos from 1956 to 1969. With a charter emphasizing 'people-to-people’ cooperation, IVS aimed to uplift health, productivity, and living standards while bridging understanding among diverse populations (Benson, 2016).

IVS's trajectory in Laos was significantly shaped by its relationship with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Funded by USAID, IVS volunteers embarked on two-year contracts, immersing themselves in community development, agriculture, and education projects, while also diving deep into the culture and language of the regions they served (Benson, 2016).

In 1956, with USAID's assistance, IVS and the Royal Lao Government (RLG) initiated the Rural Self-Help Project, laying a foundation for a national service to coordinate rural activities throughout the Kingdom of Laos under the “Development of the Rural Economy” program.

However, the relationship between IVS and USAID navigated through complexities. Political instability in Laos, notably the Kong Le Coup d’Etat in 1960, presented significant hurdles to IVS and USAID operations in the region (Benson, 2016).

IVS workers, committed to fostering development and understanding among communities, navigated through the perils and dangers of working in politically unstable regions. Particularly during the 1960s, IVS involvement in Laos was marked by significant political and civil unrest, posing substantial risks to the volunteers (Benson, 2016).

During escalating war activities, both IVS and USAID employees heightened their security consciousness. Pathet Lao forces unpredictably roamed the countryside, posing not just theoretical dangers but also real and sometimes tragic threats. Three American IVS workers and three Lao IVS Field Assistants were killed in ambushes during the first eight months of 1969 (Benson, 2016).

This tragic period forced IVS to reexamine its role and presence in Laos, grappling with issues of security and involvement with American presence and programs in the country. IVS decided that no volunteer should continue to live or work in situations where they were exposed to abnormal danger or had to be unduly concerned about their personal security (Benson, 2016).

In the wake of these tragedies and the evolving political landscape, IVS Laos withdrew IVSers from all rural areas located outside provincial capitals by January of 1970, citing prohibitive security concerns and perceived incompatibility with USAID programs (Benson, 2016).