The American English Institute

Since 1991, the American English Institute (AEI) at the University of Oregon has granted scholarships to two dozen E-LAW lawyers and scientists from 14 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe.

L to R: Sarah Klinghammer, AEI outgoing Director; Boedhi Wijardjo, E-LAW advocate from Indonesia and AEI student; Peggy Dame, AEI Director of Special Programs

Attorneys Byron Real and Marcela Enriquez of Ecuador were E-LAW`s first Working Exchange Fellows, and the first E-LAW advocates to benefit from scholarships to AEI`s intensive 10-week English courses. They are also founding members of E-LAW.

"It was very useful," says Marcela. "There were few opportunities to speak English in Ecuador, but we wanted to communicate with lawyers and scientists from around the world through the E-LAW network. After the AEI course we could go anywhere in the world and survive."

Byron and Marcela came to the U.S. to publicize the plight of the Huaorani Indians in Ecuador`s Amazon region. These indigenous peoples were under threat by oil development by U.S. and European corporations. Soon after they arrived, Byron and Marcela realized it was difficult to get anyone`s attention without English.

Peggy Dame, AEI Director of Special Programs, put the E-LAW scholarship program in place ten years ago. She says: "We like students who have been out in the working world and we like to support good work... E-LAW diversifies our student body and brings a level of motivation and maturity that inspires other students."

AEI scholarships are a vital component of E-LAW`s Working Exchange Fellowship program. "Offering our partners the opportunity to study English enhances their understanding of U.S. law and gives them access to a world of environmental law and science resources published only in English," says Lori Maddox, E-LAW U.S. Associate Director.

Many thanks to AEI for helping E-LAW U.S. build the capacity of environmental advocates to protect the environment through law.