Our History and Mission

Mission Statement

Build schools in rural villages with limited access to education so children can learn basic math skills, to read Khmer, and to write Khmer.

Our History

Rural School Village Program was started in the 1990s by Aki Ra, founder of Cambodian Self-Help Demining. Aki Ra was demining in rural areas. In one village, the chief asked Aki Ra to build them a school. This village had limited access to education; the closest school was 5 miles away. Kids could not travel that far for school every day. Aki Ra built the school and Rural School Village Program (RSVP) was born.

Cambodia was at war for 35 years. Northern and Western Cambodia, where most of the fighting and bombings happened, lack infrastructure. There are not enough schools in these areas. The Rural School Village Program builds schools in places where there have not been schools for 35-40 years. This program is “phase 2” of Cambodian Self-Help Demining’s mission. Once the land is cleared and safe, we build a school. Rural School Village Program is slowly rebuilding infrastructure in rural Cambodia. 

In 2014, the name Rural School Village Program (RSVP) was established. Today, Rural School Village Program support over 3,300 students and 100 teachers. We have built 29 schools, continue to provide school supplies, additional pay to teachers, and scholarships to university students. With donations and support from sponsors, several schools have also received bicycles and uniforms! 

How we do it?

Rural School Village Program schools are paid for by sponsors, donors, and friends. Villages provide the land, secure the needed licenses for a school, and are hired to construct the building and facility supplies. Rural School Village Program provides children (and adults) with the essential tools to educate themselves!

Scholarships

Working with its partner, The Landmine Relief Fund, Rural School Village Program provides university scholarships for students in Cambodia, who would otherwise not be able to afford a university education. At the beginning of 2023 RSVP was supporting 6 students with tuition, rooms, uniforms, school supplies and a small monthly stipend.