We are thrilled to offer our Rwanda Journey as a groundbreaking alliance with the expert travelers at Global Engagement Institute!

Global Engagement Institute offers over a decade of experience in high-impact, multi-cultural academic travel, with award-winning tour operations in Africa and Asia. GEI's impressive list of clients include top universities and academic leaders from the likes of John Hopkins, Harvard, and Cornell; women-empowering nonprofits like Women For Women, Eve Ensler's V-DAY, and World Pulse; to... rock stars (Bono's ONE Campaign)!

Half Sky Journeys brings the innovations of a global women's empowerment network; expertise in international development communications; and the know-how to create bridges of support and leadership across geographical borders and economic sectors. We offer wellness and reflection components on every trip—allowing guests to both experience profound and heartfelt moments, as well as to delight in amazement and fun that is an essential part of any journey!

We believe that collaboration is at the very heart of women's leadership.  We invite you to be a part of it!

OUR LEADERSHIP

Ila Asplund, CEO
Half Sky Journeys

Ever since a college trip to Indonesia sparked her wanderlust, Ila Asplund jumped into global adventures with both feet! As Communications Director of World Pulse Media, Ila joined a community of women heroes committed to solving the challenges of gender inequality. Travel continues to teach Ila about the importance of our voices—no matter how innovative our ideas, how deep our pain or joy—through sharing our stories we can truly make an impact. It’s what inspires her vision of joining powerful advocates across borders, and it’s why she created Half Sky Journeys: investing in women through meaningful travel.

Dr. Michael Grosspietsch, G.E.I.

GEI is the brainchild of  Dr. Michael Grosspietsch who, 15 years ago, started to explore the question how to increase human development impacts of short-term  programs in developing countries. What was initially an academic research exercise that earned Michael his PhD soon became a practical opportunity: Living in Rwanda, Michael founded GEI originally as a Rwandan educational travel provider in 2006. Within five years, the organization became East Africa’s leader for educational short-term programs, and then South Africa. GEI has now opened regional program office in Vietnam, focusing  on women's leadership and health.

COMING IN 2016: VIETNAM

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