Rise Village International

Transforming education without limits

Education technology that works anywhere.

We create sustainable, locally-driven education solutions that thrive even in the most remote and challenging environments: places without electricity or internet access.

Support a project See our projects

About us

Rise Village International exists because many communities still face barriers to learning that most of the world no longer sees. We work with schools, teachers, and local organisations who are doing their best with limited resources and simply need support that matches their reality.

Our aim is to bring practical, reliable tools that make learning accessible offline, empower educators, and strengthen communities. We welcome partners who share the belief that meaningful change starts small, grows locally, and works best when we build it together.

Our simple yet powerful technology builds on the “Internet-in-a-Box” movement, enhanced with expertly curated teaching software and content libraries.

Vision
What drives us is a belief that knowledge should never be limited by geography, language, or circumstance. We envision communities where technology serves people, not the other way around, empowering teachers, inspiring learners, and connecting generations through shared understanding.
Mission
Our goal is simple yet transformative: to make quality education accessible, meaningful, and sustainable for every village that would like to partner with us to rise above their circumstance.
Approach
What sets us apart is our hands-on approach: this technology is supported by a team of dedicated educational experts who ensure it meets the needs of each community. Together, we’re not just delivering tools; we’re unlocking knowledge, fostering resilience, and building brighter futures.

Integrity

We honor the trust placed in us by maintaining transparency, consistency, and accountability, ensuring that we deliver on our commitments with unwavering reliability.

Independence

We approach our work with impartiality and openness, ensuring our impact is universal, unbiased, and focused on serving diverse communities without discrimination.

Quality and efficiency

Through strategic collaboration and innovative thinking, we consistently strive to deliver high-quality, efficient solutions that create meaningful and sustainable change.

Projects

Every project is built with a local partner, and every franc raised goes toward the needs listed below.

The Great KarooNelspoort, Central Karoo, South Africa
Funded, rollout ongoing

Rise Village International & Central Karoo Farm Community Association

We support the Central Karoo Farm Community Association (CKFCA) in their mission to provide access to digital education hubs in the six communities they serve: Nelspoort, Laingsburg, Leeu Gamka, Merweville, Murraysburg and Prince Albert.

A fully offline digital education hub, digital library and AI system will be installed in Nelspoort to support teachers and students in the classroom, for both formal and informal education. We aim to support 10 teachers and 500 students at Restvale Met Primary School, and through the CKFCA and other practitioners using the digital libraries, to reach 1,700 people. Community members will also gain access to an offline, protected AI machine in their own languages.

What the project needs
  • ProScola TES (Teacher Enablement System) for 10 teachers
  • 1 Digital Library Box
  • 1 offline AI box with local language ability: Afrikaans and isiXhosa
  • On-site delivery and installation by the Cape Town team
  • Technical support for installation, virtual setup and training by the Cape Town team

The rollout of the Central Karoo project is ongoing. On-site consultations of resource and capacity availability are being assessed.

10 000 CHF
raised of 10 000 CHF for Nelspoort
Restvale Met Primary School, Nelspoort
StreetBizFive provinces, South Africa
Active

The Nelsons Lead: grassroots leadership through global learning

In partnership with Rise Village International, StreetBiz Foundation (South Africa) runs a leadership development initiative supported by a donation from GAIA.

The project supports 20 young South African changemakers, called The Nelsons, to enrol in the Open Society University Network (OSUN) course on Social Entrepreneurship. An additional course, Leading Change for Sustainability, runs January to May each year. Each Nelson takes part in weekly online classes, develops and pitches a real-world social impact project, and receives feedback from faculty and students at 12 universities worldwide. The most promising projects are implemented across five South African provinces, with a focus on underserved urban and rural communities.

What the project needs
  • Tuition funding for 20 participants in the OSUN programme
  • Laptop procurement and configuration for online learning (licensed, locally set up)
  • Monthly data provision to ensure access to weekly classes
  • Project implementation support for selected initiatives in 5 provinces
  • Monitoring and evaluation tools to track outcomes and share results
3 300 CHF
fundraising goal
Supported by a donation from GAIA, covering tuition, laptops, data, local implementation and impact reporting.
Calling AcademyKroonstad, South Africa
Active, raising funds

Rise Village International & Calling Academy Kroonstad

We support Calling Academy’s mission to provide quality education and holistic development to students in Kroonstad. Calling Academy’s second campus opened in Kroonstad in January 2022. They provide top-quality education to learners from low-income communities and, while running their schools at a low fee, are working to raise the bar of quality in South African education.

What the project needs
  • 2 laptops for teachers to enhance their teaching capabilities
  • 5 projectors or TVs to improve classroom engagement and learning
  • ProScola software for up to 10 teachers (implemented)
  • Technical support for installation, virtual setup and training by ProScola experts (implemented)
2 000 CHF
raised of 4 000 CHF
Secondary School Calling Academy, Kroonstad

Help close the gap

Gibusong IslandPhilippines
Completed

A digital classroom without power or infrastructure

We supported the educational development of students on Gibusong Island, enhancing learning resources and equipping teachers with essential tools and technology, to foster a sustainable educational environment for the students and the wider island community.

The ProScola Safe School Box contains everything needed to teach digitally in a classroom without power or computers: tablets for students and laptops for teachers. The project was successfully implemented and is now closed.

9 500 CHF
raised of 9 000 CHF
Primary School, Gibusong Island

Meet the team

We are an expanding network of individuals whose goal is to see underserved communities uplifted through knowledge expansion and self-sufficiency.

Jason ThompsonBoard Member, Change MakerLinkedIn
Dieter ReitzBoard Member, Teacher & EntrepreneurLinkedIn
proscola.com
Thomas MadsenBoard Member, Passionate LeaderLinkedIn
Philipp StrübinBoard Member, Head of ITLinkedIn
Stephanie RofflerBoard Member, Operations SupportLinkedIn
Birgit KempterBoard Member, Assistant to the Foundation BoardLinkedIn

Get involved

Join us in creating lasting change, one community at a time.

Individuals

50 CHF / year

Become a member of Rise Village International. Depending on your interests and capabilities, you can contribute not only financially but also with your knowledge.

Companies and organisations

500 CHF / year

Become a partner. You can contribute financially, as a supplier, or as a knowledge provider.

Schools

School enables schools
  • Proceeds from a school festival?
  • Planning a raffle or a bake sale?
  • A project week collecting donations?

Do something for children disadvantaged in education.

Let’s have a talk

Apply for membership or tell us how you’d like to engage. We’ll get back to you by email.

Prefer email? Write to info@risevillageinternational.org.