SIMrise Play

​​​​SIMrise is a student-led initiative that begun in 2018, under the name SIMilili. The original project focused on helping local communities in Kenya become more self-sustained. The previous generations that led the SIMilili initiative launched agricultural initiatives, such as funding and building a chicken farm in one of the communities. In 2023, after the completion of the project in Kenya, the SIM20 students decided to relocate the initiative to a new location: Cambodia. They rebranded to “SIMrise”, symbolizing the rise of the community in Cambodia. They teamed up with a new partner for the initiative, the Swiss NGO Smiling Gecko, whose goal is to set up a blueprint for a functioning rural community in the Kampong Chhnang province that can also be replicated in other parts of Cambodia. They have already enabled approximately 30,000 people to escape extreme poverty and achieve a better quality of life over the past 12 years. Smiling Gecko’s campus includes, among others, a carpentry, fish & chicken farms, agricultural grounds, and school for local children. The 2023-initiative managed to fund and build a greenhouse on Smiling Gecko’s campus, that would be used to teach the children more about agriculture and help self-sustain the community. 

In 2024, the SIM21 generation decided to build on the work of SIM20 and continue the partnership with Smiling Gecko. Due to the local needs of a playground and an awareness campaign, SIMrise Play was born. Our goal is to further help promote education in this community and achieve sustainable impact.