We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Riggio. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

What wouldn’t I change about the educational system?…

I would change most things about the educational system in the USA. My utter disappointment for the conditioning young people receive from schooling is one of the main reasons that I moved to rural Cambodia to create an educational system that I did believe in!

In my opinion, the educational system teaches us how to follow directions, over-work ourselves, doubt intuition, and be a good employee. What I think our educational system can do to prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career is teach subjects like communication, human intimacy, emotional intelligence, team-building, leadership, and self-awareness. I wish our education system was able to build a student’s self-confidence which would allow them to take risks, follow their instincts, effectively identify emotions, be aware of thinking patterns, believe in what unique gifts they have to offer, and communicate feelings effectively. Also, I think it’s important for all humans to know about living in unison with the natural world, how to grow our own food, how to identify harmful products in food, how to be an advocate for our own health, (and the health of the planet) as well as, the duty of all humans to give back to the world around them in some capacity.

If we had communities of young people who had classes on subjects, like this, we would create thriving communities centered around emotionally stable and empowered people.

I was raised in a religious, private school. I had experienced major trauma, including the death of a parent before age four. I was always a very bright student who got great grades, and I knew how to work the system. The way my brain worked made it easy for me to do well in school.

There was a moment when I was young maybe in fifth or sixth grade, and I remember taking a multiple-choice test, in which I knew the correct answer, but I deliberately put a different multiple-choice answer in and then wrote in a long explanation for why I had put it that way, also explaining that I knew the correct multiple-choice that they were wanting me to fill in but disagreed. I remember later that week I was called into school to speak with my teacher about why I had filled in an answer, knowing that it wasn’t the correct answer. I explained my point, and it was something that I morally and ethically believed was true at that time in my young life. In the end, it didn’t matter what my opinion was or that I didn’t know the right answer, I got the question wrong, and it lowered my grade. I remember something shifted in my way of thinking after that. Free thinking, and following my intuition were not valued in the educational system, and I came to understand that. So I played the game, I got good grades, and I didn’t put myself out there as much anymore.

Another example was my sister on the other side of the spectrum. My sister is a highly emotionally, intelligent person who never got good grades in school. She tried a lot harder than I ever did and put in a lot more hours too, but her grades constantly reinforced all her self-doubt. That red marker told her again, and again that she was not smart, and that no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be as smart as others or get it right. This taught my sister low self-confidence, self-doubt, and it stifled her creativity. Because the educational system was looking for only one correct way to be, it changed the course of my sister’s life. If only the system was designed to meet young people where they are at, and develop their natural skills, talents, and passions, to create a stable and secure foundation for someone to grow up with confidence in what they have to offer the world.

I believe that if we have an educational system that is based on supporting a holistic approach to the development of a human being, we can have a much healthier society. When we give young people the tools to know themselves, how their brains and bodies work, and how to value themselves, we will raise a society of free thinkers who will revolutionize what a human’s role in the Universe is.

This, coupled with how to work with people that have different skill sets, how to work through uncomfortable emotional situations, how to go through difficult life experiences and other emotionally intelligent strategies will set up students for real fulfillment, satisfaction, and success.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Rachel Riggio, I have founded and have been running a free education and community development project in rural Cambodia for ten years. I speak the local language pretty well, and I have fallen absolutely in love with the way of being here, in the Kingdom of Wonder. I now facilitate internship and wellness retreat programs here in Cambodia that directly fund, the free education initiatives of the Red Road Foundation. It is my absolute privilege and pleasure to introduce people to the many things Khmer culture has taught me about living a fulfilled and joyful life.

How I got into the industry – I was working in mental health for the American government for many years. I studied counseling in college with an emphasis on addiction and youth. I worked for many years in inpatient,/outpatient treatment centers, as well as group homes. At one point, I became a foster parent to three 16 year old boys with meth addicted parents, when I was only 25 years old. After giving my all and trying to change the system for over seven years, I decided to give up on reforming all the things I didn’t believe in. I decided to give up and trying to tear down a system in which I felt, my influence wasn’t being felt in. I decided to go to a place where I could build something from the ground up that I did believe in and attract others with a like-mind to join in on my efforts.

I was seeking humility and gratitude. A good friend of mine had told me he had just returned from Cambodia and that Khmer people were the most humble and grateful people that he had ever met. Without knowing anything about Cambodia, I decided to go and see what it would feel like to be surrounded by humble, and grateful people. When I got here, so many synchronicities began to happen. Over and over my body was filled with goosebumps and my days filed with unexplainable events that made me feel in my core that I was in alignment with something that was important for my soul. I held the will to be of service in my heart, I knew that I wanted to contribute something that would bring opportunity and awareness to those living without most resources we have in the West. Step-by-step, the Red Road foundation was born, and every year, since it has grown into something, more sustainable with its own life force. I love when people bring their passions, skills, and talents to our project in cross-cultural collaborations that benefit all who are involved. This is the type of work that doesn’t feel as much like work as it does a mission. I think this is important for us humans.

What we do- We have been providing free education and sustainable development opportunities in an impoverished region in Cambodia for ten years. We have hosted over 500 volunteers, have consistently educated over 60 students, have funded things like water wells and operations, construction of many eco-building projects, provided stable employment and education of local employees, run fully on solar, and founded four social enterprises to be taken over by local students (to name a few).
Now, we have changed our charity model organization to be self-sustainable through the Internship and Retreat programs that we offer. We provide customized experiential, learning programs, centering around leadership in sustainable development for passionate students all around the world. We also are hosting wellness retreats, that take our clients on a journey within, as they contemplate life from the fresh perspective of such a special country that has persevered through so much.

As far as our wellness retreats go, what really sets us apart are three important factors.

1. Taking people on a three-phase journey that highlights various aspects of the healing process is something special that most retreats do not incorporate.
2. Incorporating giving back is an important aspect of our retreat that promotes seeing oneself in the context of the big picture, what we have to offer, and how we can develop true self-confidence.
3. Cambodia has a lot to offer as far as fresh perspective goes. The strength, humility, acceptance, pure joyfulness, inquisitiveness, & presence of the general population is good medicine for the soul to resonate with. There are fundamentals of a profound yet simple way of being here that are difficult to put into words but important for those of us who have been raised with toxic beliefs.

What are my most proud of? I’m most proud of going out on a limb to do something that I believed in without any guarantee that it was going to work out or that other people would believe in me, or join forces in my vision. I’m so proud of myself for taking that risk, for allowing the vision to be molded- take on a life of its own, and for seeing the positive benefits, that people walk away with after taking part in what we do.

The main thing I want potential clients to know-

I want to offer you an unforgettable experience to be inspired on the road less traveled. A journey to Cambodia guided with personal insights and the ability to give back to this country which will have you greeted with smiles and an indescribable presence that many have lost in the modern-day world.

We are looking for people who are interested in having a unique travel opportunity off the beaten track while having a positive impact along the way.

The Red Road Foundation offers wellness RETREATS, INTERNSHIPS. and VOLUNTEERING positions that all directly fund our free education program.

Retreats:

These Wellness retreats will bring you on an insider’s tour through Cambodia which simultaneously leads you on a journey within. I will guide you into another world that will inspire, intrigue and revitalize your being. These experiences are hosted alongside a yoga master and shaman, Maya who is an extremely skilled and knowledgeable in her fields. She will take you on a journey within your own body which brings you into greater understanding, harmony and alignment with yourself.

We have created these retreats to show you how Cambodia can help you to see your life from a new perspective. It has been created for those who truly want to experience a new perspective on the road less traveled, revel in natural beauty, and have a more joyous and grateful experience of life when you return home too.

Highlights: Explore ancient ruins of Angkor Watt, marvel at enormous waterfalls falling from a jungle pagoda, walk with elephants in nature, volunteer with our foundation, experience the lazy tropical riverside of Kampot, meet locals that have defied the odds, rejuvenate yourself on white-sand beaches, swimming with glowing plankton, secret countryside spas with Khmer led self-love rituals, cranial sacral session and benefit from group/personal wellness activities throughout.

Internships- We are creating opportunities for ecologically viable social enterprises. We offer an experiential leadership program where we work together with international students alongside locals in addressing critical issues, such as waste, poverty & education. These programs directly support our program’s sustainability. Our mission is to contribute to a more sustainable and mindful future full of opportunities to rise collectively.

Seeking:

Students or specialists in Communication, Marketing, Finance, Engineering & Education-based backgrounds to contribute to the sustainability of a small community and create a global model.

Get hands-on experience in the field of leadership and sustainability. Help to create a better future. Work hand in hand with locals and experience fresh perspectives.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My best advice for this is to let people lead in the areas they are skilled and passionate about. For me, it’s important that employees are looked at as a cohesive team where we all rise/grow together. If the business is doing well, everyone receives benefit, if the business isn’t doing well, all members have motivation to find ways for it to adapt and grow. Give people initiatives to do better, give them a stake in the game. I think building a business that is successful needs to have people who believe in what you’re building and are benefitting from it blossoming. Encouraging people to lead in their areas of expertise gives your business fresh life, flow, and energy.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For many years, I saw myself as a charity organization, and I normalized raising funds. Asking for help and fundraising in general became my identity. I started to think of myself as a charity case. Year after year, I stressed out about how I was going to cover finances each month. I endured so much stress trying to figure out how I would pay my employees who were counting on their wages to feed their families. It was nerve-wracking, and I began to forget about everything I had to offer and instead was focused on everything I needed to get to keep afloat. I began becoming very depressed and feeling like a failure. Every time I scraped the funds to get by for one month, I had to start thinking about how I was going to do it again for the next month. Then, I begin learning about the law of attraction and watching a lot of podcasts and lectures about reprogramming the mind by people like Joe Dispenza and Wayne Dyer. I decided that I was going to stop seeing myself as a charity case, and begin to see myself as a successful business-woman who was able to offer skills, knowledge, and wisdom to those who were out there, seeking fresh-perspective, and an enriched experience of their lives. I’d begin picturing myself picking people up from the airport in a van and taking them around Cambodia to experience all the beautiful things I had come to learn along the way. About two months after I began to do that, I was contacted by an agency and offered a job to guide their clients around Cambodia. Soon after, I began doing a job that funded our monthly expenses and made my time spent working on the foundation sustainable for me.
Everything changed when that mind-shift happened.

Contact Info:

• Website: TheRedRoadFoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theredroadfoundation?igsh=YzlpZGk0d2ZxYmxs and https://www.instagram.com/red.road.retreats?igsh=MXJ1ajIwYTk4emhqdg==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRedRoadFoundation
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theredroadfoundation8045

Image Credits
Ales Martan (pic of temple), Aurelie Fischer (Class for kids wearing banana leaves), Garrett Riggio (Girls on the rock and girl with elephant), Salome Jartoux (my main profile picture and pic of woman with flower crown)