Mission and History

Our Mission

Landmine Relief Fund’s mission is to support the work of Cambodian Self Help Demining (CSHD) in removing landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) from Cambodia and Rural School Support Organization (RSSO) in its two initiatives: Rural School Village Program (RSVP) and The Together Project (TTP). Rural School Village Program  builds schools in rural areas and The Together Project has a farm that teaches Cambodians to grow nutritious and chemical-free crops to supplement their diet and wallet. 

History

In 2003, Bill Morse heard about Aki Ra, a young Cambodian man and ex-child soldier, who started a small landmine museum and was searching for landmines by hand, and defusing them with a stick. Aki Ra had established a Relief Center and home for wounded and abandoned children. He and his wife Hourt were caring for over a dozen of kids.

Bill and his wife Jill were intrigued by Aki Ra and Hourt and traveled to Cambodia to meet them. After spending two days with Aki Ra and Hourt, they returned to the United States and established a charity to help Aki Ra clear landmines.

The Landmine Relief Fund is a recognized tax-exempt 501c3 charity in the United States. The money it raises comes from small donations across the US and around the world. In 2009, the fund secured a grant from the United States Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement to help Aki Ra in his work.

Today, Bill and Jill live in Siem Reap overseeing the work of the Landmine Relief Fund. Bill is also the International Project Manager for Cambodian Self-Help Demining and the Project Manager for the Cambodia Landmine Museum. Jill is the treasurer of Landmine Relief Fund and works closely with Rural School Support Organization.