IRAN

Expanding Access to Education & Opportunity
In underserved rural communities across Iran, Village Rise is building schools, improving learning environments, and investing in the next generation through education, resources, and community-driven development.

Our Impact

  • 2 schools constructed and completed

  • 13 schools renovated or improved

  • 1,300+ students directly served through education initiatives

  • 3 soccer fields operating, serving 3,000+ individuals

  • 5,700+ household food distributions over 6 years

  • 1,400+ households supported annually

  • 36 villages reached through food security programs

  • 7,000+ residents served through health care access initiatives

  • 20 villages covered by emergency medical services

  • 1,000+ mothers and children reached through community outreach programs

Our Approach

Village Rise’s work in Iran spans across our core program areas, addressing both immediate needs and long-term community development. In partnership with Danehaye Mehr, we support initiatives that expand access to education, strengthen food security, improve health care access, and foster community connection.

Our work includes:

  • Education: Building and completing schools, renovating classrooms, and equipping study halls to expand access to safe and quality learning environments

  • Food Security: Delivering targeted food distributions and essential household support to vulnerable families across rural communities

  • Health Care: Establishing critical infrastructure to improve emergency response and access to medical services

  • Community Outreach: Supporting culturally rooted programming, local initiatives, and direct family support to strengthen community networks

  • Youth Development & Safe Spaces: Creating structured recreational spaces that promote leadership, engagement, and positive youth development

Highlighted Projects

  • Completed in just 87 days through full community mobilization

    Program
    Education

    Location
    Ternavli-Bala Village, Golestan Province

    Overview
    Village Rise partnered with Danehaye Mehr and the local community to complete a primary school that had been left unfinished due to rising costs and economic challenges. Through strong community collaboration, the project was completed in just 87 days.

    Impact

    • 21 students enrolled in the first year

    • 270 total residents benefit long-term

    • Community-wide participation in construction

    Long-Term Impact
    Provides a permanent, safe learning environment and establishes foundational access to education for an entire rural community.

  • Reopened in 2024 after years of delays, restoring access to secondary education

    Program
    Education

    Location
    Qusheh-Su Village, Golestan Province

    Overview
    This secondary school project faced multi-year delays before Village Rise supported efforts to bring it to completion, ensuring students could continue their education beyond elementary levels.

    Impact

    • 96 students served at launch

    • 2,000+ residents across 3 villages benefit

    • Expanded access to secondary education

    Long-Term Impact
    Reduces dropout rates and creates pathways for continued education, particularly for students who previously had no access to secondary schooling.

  • Expanding access to academic resources for 700+ rural students

    Program
    Education

    Location
    Multiple Boarding Schools, Golestan Province

    Overview
    Village Rise equipped boarding schools with study halls and educational resources, providing students with access to structured learning environments and materials essential for academic success.

    Impact

    • 700+ students served

    • 400+ books distributed

    • Dedicated study spaces established

    Long-Term Impact
    Supports academic achievement and increases access to higher education opportunities by leveling the playing field for rural students.

  • Creating safe spaces for 3,000+ youth across 15 villages

    Program
    Community Outreach

    Location
    Golestan Province (Multi-Village Coverage)

    Overview
    Village Rise partnered with Danehaye Mehr and local leaders to construct safe, structured football facilities that provide consistent recreational space and promote youth engagement.

    Impact

    • 3 soccer fields operating

    • 3,000+ individuals served

    • 15 villages reached

    • 10,000+ residents in coverage region

    • 70 youth engaged in formal training

    Long-Term Impact
    Creates safe spaces for youth development, reduces social risks, and fosters leadership, teamwork, and community connection.

Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery

The Need

In rural regions of Iran, access to essential services remains limited. Many communities face challenges including unsafe or incomplete school infrastructure, limited access to health care, food insecurity, and a lack of safe spaces for youth development.

These barriers contribute to broader social challenges, including school dropout, reduced economic mobility, and increased vulnerability among families.

Village Rise works alongside local partners to address these gaps through sustainable, community-driven solutions that strengthen both individuals and the systems that support them.

Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery

  • Upgrading learning environments across 13 schools and 7+ villages

    Program
    Education

    Location
    7+ Villages across Golestan Province

    Overview
    Village Rise partnered with local communities to improve existing schools by upgrading infrastructure, enhancing facilities, and providing educational resources.

    Impact

    • 1,200 students directly benefit

    • 10 schools repainted and restored

    • 5 schools equipped with new restroom facilities

    • 13 schools received educational materials

    Long-Term Impact
    Improves learning conditions and student engagement, creating environments that support consistent attendance and stronger educational outcomes.

  • Delivering 5,700+ food distributions to vulnerable households

    Program
    Food Security

    Location
    36 Villages, Golidagh County

    Overview
    Village Rise delivers targeted food distributions and essential household support through a locally verified model, ensuring aid reaches the most vulnerable families in rural communities.

    Impact

    • 5,700+ household food distributions over 6 years

    • 1,400+ households supported annually

    • 7,000+ residents within regional network

    Long-Term Impact
    Stabilizes vulnerable households, reduces food insecurity, and provides critical support during periods of economic instability.

  • Reducing emergency response times by over 65% across 20 villages

    Program
    Health Care

    Location
    Qaranki Jungle Village, Golestan Province

    Overview
    Village Rise supported the construction of a roadside emergency medical center to address critical gaps in health care access across remote rural communities.

    Impact

    • 7,000+ residents served

    • 20 surrounding villages covered

    • Emergency response time reduced by over 65%

    • Permanent medical infrastructure established

    Long-Term Impact
    Provides life-saving access to emergency care and significantly improves response times in regions where medical services were previously inaccessible.

  • Strengthening local communities through culturally rooted programs

    Program
    Community Outreach & Education

    Location
    Multiple Communities across Iran

    Overview
    Village Rise supports culturally rooted initiatives that strengthen local ecosystems through community engagement, arts, youth programming, and direct family support.

    Impact

    • 1,000+ mothers and children reached through mobile street theatre

    • Regional cultural and economic festivals supported

    • Women artisans and local producers empowered

    • Ongoing case-based family support provided

    Long-Term Impact
    Strengthens social cohesion, preserves cultural identity, and builds resilient, community-led support systems.

Sustainability

Village Rise’s work in Iran is grounded in long-term, community-led partnerships. In collaboration with Danehaye Mehr and local stakeholders, projects are implemented through a model that prioritizes local ownership, shared responsibility, and sustained engagement.

Each initiative is developed and executed alongside community members, including local leaders, families, and volunteers, ensuring that solutions are not only relevant but actively supported by the people they serve. From school construction to community infrastructure, projects are carried forward through collective participation and coordination.

This approach strengthens existing systems while building trust and accountability at the local level. By working within communities rather than around them, Village Rise ensures that each project creates lasting impact and continues to serve future generations.