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

  • 27 schools renovated or improved

  • 1,300+ students directly served through education initiatives

  • 4 soccer fields built, serving 6,000+ individuals

  • 5,700+ household food distributions over 6 years

  • 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 five core program areas, addressing both urgent humanitarian 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 stronger, more connected communities.

Our approach goes beyond providing basic services. We focus on creating sustainable opportunities that empower individuals, especially women and youth, to build more stable and independent futures.

Our work includes:

  • Education: Building and completing schools, renovating classrooms, digitalizing learning environments through Smart Schools initiatives, and equipping study halls to expand access to safe, modern, and quality education. We also support talented students, particularly girls, through educational enrichment, workshops, and skill-building opportunities that broaden perspectives, strengthen practical knowledge, and increase access to higher education.

  • Food Security: Delivering targeted food distributions and essential household support to vulnerable families across rural communities experiencing economic hardship and food insecurity.

  • Health Care: Establishing critical infrastructure and supporting initiatives that improve emergency response capabilities and access to essential medical services.

  • Community Outreach: Supporting culturally rooted programming, local initiatives, workshops, entrepreneurship initiatives, and direct family support that strengthen community networks and foster social connection. A key focus of our work is creating supportive spaces where women and girls can safely gather, learn, build confidence, and access opportunities that encourage empowerment, self-reliance, and community engagement.

  • Shelter & Housing: Supporting the development and improvement of safe community spaces and infrastructure that contribute to long-term stability, educational access, and positive youth development within underserved communities.

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 to schools

    Program
    Education

    Location
    Golestan Province

    Overview
    Village Rise equipped 4 boarding schools and 2 day-schools with study halls, libraries, and educational resources, providing students with access to structured learning environments and materials essential for academic success.

    Impact

    • Over 1,600 students supported across 6 schools

    • Over 1,800 book volumes donated

    • Dedicated study halls and learning spaces established

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

  • Creating safe recreational spaces and youth engagement opportunities across rural communities

    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, strengthen community connection, and promote youth engagement through organized sports and football academies.

    Impact

    • 4 community football fields completed

    • 170+ students actively participating in football academies

    • 35+ villages reached through regional field access

    • 15,000+ individuals served across the coverage region

    Long-Term Impact
    Creates safe spaces for youth development, strengthens leadership and teamwork skills, reduces social risks, and fosters stronger community connection across underserved rural regions.

    Future Outlook
    Village Rise plans to co-sponsor the development of 4 additional football fields this year to further expand youth access, recreational opportunities, and community engagement across rural villages.

Photo Gallery

The Need

Across many rural regions of Iran, families are facing growing economic hardship due to severe inflation, rising living costs, and limited access to essential resources. These challenges have deeply impacted access to education, health care, food security, and safe community spaces, particularly for women and children.

As financial pressures increase, quality education is increasingly becoming unaffordable for many rural families. Girls are disproportionately affected, facing higher risks of school dropout, while many young boys are forced to leave their communities and migrate to larger cities in search of work to help support their families.

Limited access to modern educational resources and safe learning environments further widens the gap in opportunity for rural youth. At the same time, many communities lack dedicated spaces where women and girls can safely gather, learn, build connections, and access support systems that foster personal and community growth.

Improving access to quality education and community-centered programs creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom. By supporting talented students, especially young girls, with educational opportunities and modern resources, communities are empowered to build stronger futures, increase university access, inspire the next generation, and strengthen long-term economic and social mobility.

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, environmental awareness, and community engagement

    Program
    Community Outreach & Education

    Location
    Multiple Communities across Iran

    Overview
    Village Rise supports culturally rooted initiatives that strengthen local ecosystems through community engagement, arts, vocational workshops, youth programming, and direct family support. Many of these programs are designed to foster a deeper connection between young girls and their surrounding environment, encouraging environmental responsibility, sustainability, and long-term community stewardship alongside practical skill development.

    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, promotes environmental awareness, and builds resilient, community-led support systems that empower women, youth, and local communities.

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.