President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia officially launches the Project Building Climate-Resilient Rain Schools in the Mekong Region"
Dr. Sok Touch, President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, officially launched the “Mekong River Basin Climate Resilient Rainforest School Project” on April 10, 2025. In the presence of Mr. Madhurjay Kumar Dutta, President of MKCF, and Mr. Ashutosh K. Jha, Chief Financial Officer of MKCF, as well as Professor Mooyoung Han Meek from Seoul National University and leaders of institutes and institutions affiliated with the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
The program, supported by South Korea, is designed not only as a Cambodia-centric project but as a regional solution, incorporating countries such as Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. A key consideration is to ensure that the project benefits all Mekong countries equally, given the shared geographical and climatic challenges the region faces.
Professor Sok Touch said that the use of air pollution, including exhaust fumes (cars, motorbikes), factories, weapons tests by major powers, and explosions, is destroying the climate today. All of these pollutants need to be converted into rain that provides clean water for drinking.
Mam Sarith, Director of the Rainwater Training and Research Centre (RTRC), Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), said the goal of the collaboration between RAC and Seoul National University is to implement the initiative in schools.
According to Yang Peou, RAC Secretary General, the schools are focused on building rainwater storage and filtration systems to ensure students have access to clean water while also providing them with essential knowledge on sustainable water management.
Mooyoung Han, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University in South Korea and a leading figure in the Rain School project, has underscored South Korea’s experience with community-driven rainwater harvesting and its applicability to the Cambodian context.
Cambodia launched the Rain School Initiative, aiming to establish 1,000 ‘Rain Schools’ equipped with rainwater harvesting and filtration systems to provide clean water while fostering climate sustainability and educating students on water conservation.
