Village Rise began with a simple belief in the power of community.

Manijeh Marvastian was raised in Iran within a large, close-knit extended family where service to others was woven into everyday life. From a young age, she watched her parents open their home and their hearts to those around them. During religious holidays, her father prepared food for hundreds of people in the community. As a child, Manijeh eagerly helped, carrying bowls of rice and stew from door to door. What stayed with her was not just the act of giving, but the connection it created, the shared humanity, the quiet joy, and the sense of belonging that followed.

Those early experiences shaped her understanding of community: that dignity matters, that listening comes first, and that real support begins with trust.

After earning a degree in Computer Engineering and spending years in the corporate world, Manijeh felt called toward work centered on healing, presence, and human connection. She dedicated nearly two decades to spiritual healing and community work, deepening her belief that lasting change cannot be imposed, it must grow from within.

In 2020, Village Rise emerged from this belief. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, the organization was created to walk alongside communities, honoring their lived experience and supporting pathways toward self-empowerment. Through education, food security, health care, shelter and housing, vocational training, and individualized community outreach, Village Rise focuses on expanding access to essential resources while supporting communities in becoming self-sustaining.

At its heart, Village Rise is grounded in the same values that shaped Manijeh’s childhood: listening before acting, working in partnership, and approaching every community with respect, care, and reciprocity. What began as a child carrying food through her neighborhood has grown into a global commitment to strengthening communities, always guided by the belief that when people are trusted and supported, they rise.