our History
Promoting education for over 10 years
Since its founding in 2011, RIC, together with our great local and international partners, has been supporting island communities in education, healthcare, and vocational skills training.
2011
Founding of RIC
After discussions with leaders from Chuukese communities concerned about education in Micronesia and the Western Pacific, Manuel Rauchholz established Rauchholz International Consulting as a nonprofit organization registered in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia. The purpose of founding RIC is to promote education in island regions, where, today, only 20% of children complete primary school. Consequently, the decline in literacy has led to a significant decrease in environmental stewardship, health, and income-generating capacities.
2016-2019
Re-establishing Philadelphia Christian School
Located an hour across the lagoon by boat from the main island of Weno in the Chuuk Lagoon, a village community on Tol Island named Chuukiyenú collaborated with RIC partners and benefactors to launch an outdoor alternative Kindergarten project. Gardening and hands-on learning activities relevant to island life were integral to the Kindergarten program.
The Kindergarten led to the re-establishment of Philadelphia Christian School in 2019. Years earlier, it operated as a co-educational junior high school from 1946 to 1973 through a partnership between the Evangelical Church of Chuuk Inc. (ECC) and the Liebenzell Mission USA. This was made possible through RIC’s collaboration with local leaders and international partners, including the First Presbyterian Church of Guam and the German Embassy in Manila, via the German Cooperation Program. The Evangelical Church of Chuuk (ECC) remains a key partner, hosting RIC staff and programs on its Tol Island campus, now known as Faith Walk Christian College (FCC).
Our Partners
Working together
We thank our partners, who together with us work to serve the Chuukese island communities in the areas of education, healthcare and more.
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Chuuk State Department of Education
German Cooperation Program
First Presbyterian Church Guam
Philadelphia Church
Faithwalk Christian College
Evangelical Church of Chuuk
Timeline of events
Looking back with heartfelt gratitude.
A chronological overview of events in the history of RIC
| year | events |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Based on the results of his anthropological research and discussions with local leaders, Manuel Rauchholz founded RIC as a Chuuk State registered nonprofit organisation dedicated to “Resourcing Island Communities with Education.” |
| 2016 | RIC educators collaborate with the local community to establish an outdoor Kindergarten in Chuukiyenú on Tol Island. |
| 2017 | The first RIC health and disease prevention outreach with professionals from abroad, in collaboration with the Chuuk State Department of Public Health. Legal registration of RIC as a non-profit limited liability company (GmbH) in Germany, eligible to receive funds given from donors for the purpose of promoting education, public and vocational training, and assisting students. |
| 2017-2018 | The RIC team of educators and researchers evaluates the literacy levels of individual children in five schools of the Faichuk region. |
| 2018 | RIC enters into talks with the Chuukiyenú community, the local Philadelphia Church, and Faithwalk Christian College to expand the Kindergarten and include an elementary school: Philadelphia Christian School. The school’s name recalls the co-educational junior high school ‘Philadelphia,’ operated by Liebenzell Mission USA and Germany on behalf of the Evangelical Church of Chuuk Inc. from 1946 to 1973. |
| 2018-2019 | Completion of the new Philadelphia Christian School building, funded by the German Cooperation Program of the German Embassy in Manila, a grant from the ELCA in the USA and Guam, the first Presbyterian Church of Guam (a longtime supporter of MIBS and PIBC), and Christian donors in Germany. |
| 2019 | On January 2, 2019, the Evangelical Church of Chuuk, Inc., Rauchholz International Consulting, Faithwalk Christian College, Philadelphia Evangelical Church, and the Chuukiyenú Tolensom community signed a contract-covenant for the purpose of founding Philadelphia Christian School for their own and other children. In September, Philadelphia Christian School held its opening ceremony, with the Honorable Riley III, U.S. Ambassador to the FSM, serving as the keynote speaker. The school had plans and staff in place to add one new grade each year. |
| 2022- 2023 | The COVID-19 pandemic hit Chuuk in March 202. The newly opened school was forced to close down in compliance with Chuuk State guidelines. In early summer 2022, three new teachers arrived from Germany to reopen the school in Fall 2022. However, two more lockdowns not only disrupted school operations but also hindered the food security project, which aimed to install a water purification system and an ice maker for the community, supported by the German Cooperation Program. |
| 2024 | January RIC restarts PCS with K5 and 2 first-grade classes taught by teachers from Chuuk, Yap, and Germany. July 9 RIC celebrates the first K-5 PCS graduation. July 15-August 2 RIC Health and Nutrition Summer Visitation and Training Program in collaboration with the Chuuk State Department of Public Health. Installation of the first ice maker and water purification system at PCS. The first distribution of Samaritan’s Purse gifts on Tol through RIC staff members in collaboration with the Logan Memorial Church in Mwan on Weno Island. September The 2024/2025 school year starts out with 46 registered students at PCS, encompassing K5, 1st, and 2nd grades. November Submission of the PCS Charter Status application to the Chuuk State Department of Education as a collaborative effort with local community leaders. |
| 2025 | February – March Restarting RIC Reseach Proposal Projects. Dispatch of 2 RIC teaching assistants from Germany and 3 teachers from Kenya. July RIC voluntary team of vocational professionals from Germany visit Tol island to support PCS staff members. RIC local and international partners celebrate the 2nd K5 graduation at PCS on July 17. PCS officially receives accreditation as a private school through the Chuuk State Department of Education. September PCS expands its classes to include 3rd grade along with K5, 1st, and 2nd grades. October A fourth RIC teacher arrives from Kenya. |
blog
Latest Stories
Here we share current stories about us and our work.
First Midterm Reports at the Philadelphia Christian School
Currently, fifty students are enrolled at the Philadelphia Christian School in Chukienu. This high number[…]
Summer Community Health Program
In collaboration with the Department of Health in Chuuk, a hygiene program was held during[…]
Philadelphia Christian School K5 Graduation Ceremony Summer 2024
In the summer of 2024, the moment had finally arrived: the first graduation ceremony for[…]