Our work · What we've done

The first man to clear Cambodia's mines — by hand.

From 1990 through 2008, before any NGOs existed, Aki Ra cleared landmines by himself — using homemade tools, wearing no protective equipment, and without pay. What follows is the record of that work.

Aki Ra with the homemade tools he used to clear mines
By his own hand · 1990–2008

What one determined person can undo.

Each figure below is a live explosive Aki Ra found buried in Cambodian soil — in rice fields, on school paths and in backyards — and made safe with his own hands. Many of these defused items are what you see on display in the museum today. Together they represent tens of thousands of deaths and injuries that never happened.

22,459
Anti-personnel mines
4,213
Anti-tank mines
29,758
Unexploded ordnance
198
Machine guns & artillery
597 kg
Small-arms ammunition
196 kg
Metal spike traps
99
US bombs
59
Soviet bombs
9,771,363 m²
of land made safe with his team — roughly 1,300 football fields. Between 2008–2024 they destroyed a further 7,098 anti-personnel mines, 73 anti-tank mines and 18,033 pieces of unexploded ordnance.

Every one of these was pulled from the ground so a child could walk to school, a farmer could work a field, a family could come home — without fear.

Relief Center

A home for the children the war left behind.

The Relief Center grew out of Aki Ra's original museum. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge he found children wounded by landmines, orphaned or abandoned — and brought them home to raise as his own.

It closed in 2018: children with families returned home to school, others were placed in licensed care, and those old enough for university are supported through scholarships. With funds, we will reopen the program to keep caring for children in need.

Children cared for at the Relief Center
A school built by the Rural School Village Program
Rural School Village Program

Over 20 schools. More than 3,000 children taught.

Aki Ra's mission didn't stop with rescuing children — it became a program built to educate. RSVP has built more than 20 schools and given over 3,000 children the chance to learn.

Villagers built the schools with local materials, while donations covered the essentials: uniforms, books and bicycles. As with the Relief Center, more schools will follow once funds allow.