About Aki Ra
Aki Ra is an ex-child soldier. Born in 1970 and taken from his family by the Khmer Rouge at the age of 5, he fought for the many different armies that ravaged Cambodia for nearly 35 years.
After years of fighting he returned to the villages in which he had planted thousands of mines as a soldier and began removing them, by hand, and defusing them with homemade tools. In the villages where Aki Ra cleared mines, he found many children wounded by landmines, orphaned or abandoned by their families. He brought them home where he and his wife Hourt cared for them along side their own children.
In his home, he displayed some of the items he had made safe and charged the tourists $1 to view them. He used the money to support the children in his care. This first makeshift museum opened in 1997 which was ordered closed in 2006. A Canadian charity founded by Canadian filmmaker Richard Fitoussi had been raising money to build a new facility. Land was found near Banteay Srey Temple and with the help of donors across the globe the CLMMRF built the current Landmine Museum. It opened in 2007.
In 2010 he was named a CNN Top 10 Hero out of 10,000 nominees.
OUR MISSION
The Cambodia Landmine Museum serves to educate the public on the dangers of landmines through the story of Aki Ra.
The museum believes that landmine use will only begin to end when we all demand its cessation. That can only be done through determination and education.
OUR Goal
Make Cambodia (as well as the whole world) landmine free
Sister Organizations
Relief Center
The Relief Center goes back to Aki Ra’s original museum. He found child victims of landmines after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. It was then that he had the idea to bring these children to his home and raise them as his own. The Relief Center closed in 2018. Children residing there who had families returned home where they are now attending school. Children without families have been placed in licensed residential facilities to attend school and those old enough for university have their education supported by scholarships.
As soon as we have the funds, we will be reopening the program to continue taking care of children in need.
Rural School Village Program
Aki Ra’s mission didn’t stop with rescuing children but turned into a program dedicated to educate. RSVP has built over 20 schools and given more than 3,000 children the chance to learn. Villagers helped build the schools using local materials while donations covered essentials like uniforms, books and bicycles.
Same as with the Relief Center, more schools will be built once we get the funds to do so.
The Together Project
Teaching farmers, students and people in cities to grow organic crops
Hydroponic farming ~ Greenhouse farming ~ Mushroom farming
Thanks for your support!
Aki Ra could never have achieved so many results if it were not for our visitors, supporters and donors!
Arkuon
សូមអរគុណ
The Cambodian Landmine Museum Relief Fund (CLMMRF)