Mrs. Elly Washington was born and raised in The Netherlands.   Her extensive family immigrated to Carpinteria in 1967 to start a horticultural business.  Educated at UC Santa Barbara with a focus on international relations and languages, she soon became involved in Amigos de las Americas, preparing young people for service abroad.  After starting her family with husband Doug, she entered the teaching profession.  Elly lives and teaches in Stockton, CA.  

 Active in the local chapter of People to People International, she currently serves on the Board of Trustees for PTPI and is advisor to a PTPI youth chapter.  She has coordinated 25 years of student exchange through the International Visitors Program of PTPI.   Since 2003, she was the Area Director for Central California for the educational travel program of People to People Student Ambassadors.  After visiting Piyali Learning Center in 2013, she has focused her energy on assisting PACE Universal.