ABOUTAsia Schools founder Andrew Booth grew up on a farm in rural Gloucestershire, England. As a student at the local comprehensive school, he won the first place at Oxford University and where he proceeded to earn an honors degree in physics (atomic and solid state). From there he traveled to London and spent 15 years working in finance, ultimately founding and directing a highly successful specialist-trading team for a large investment bank. He left the bank in October 2002 to travel extensively.

An accomplished athlete, Andy rowed at the international level and was named British National Champion in 1994. His travels eventually led him to Cambodia where he felt an immediate connection with its people and land. Andy subsequently established ABOUTAsia Travel to increase area commerce and provide jobs for the community. Now at age 45, he reinvests all company profits back into the community and works as a full-time volunteer. His is dedicated to developing ABOUTAsia and advancing the work of the ABOUTAsia Schools Foundation.

Having always been fascinated by the power and importance of education, Sarah elected to study it at University, completing a BA, PGCE and Masters Degree in the subject. In 2009 she joined the Teach First graduate scheme, committing three years to help address educational disadvantage in the UK. Through this classroom based experience and her consultancy work with social enterprises in London, she witnessed the massive potential that Education holds for all of society, if only people are given the chance to access it.

After embarking on a life changing trip to Asia, she turned her attention to issues surrounding limited resource teacher training and the growing role of short term volunteers in the education of Cambodian children. The opportunity to join ABOUTAsia schools as Project Manager, coordinating volunteers and overseeing the distribution of materials to schools, represents the chance to empower students, teachers and volunteers by continually looking to improve and develop the quality of teaching, learning and support they receive.

Veourn Sorm joined ABOUTAsia Schools as Project Assistant in November 2011. Born in Siem Reap, Sorm spent his early 19 years to witness both the slow and fast changes taken place in the town until he got a scholarship to Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Thailand in 2006, where he majored in Community Development. At the age of 24, Sorm graduated from the university, and two months later he joined AboutAsia Schools.

While in Thailand, Sorm participated in Ruk Bann Kird Camp as the Trainer of Children Leadership Development Project, where he had the opportunity to explore different parts of the country. And back in his home country, he started to volunteer his time for an organization called Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia, or better known as RHAC as a member of peer-group educator.

With ABOUTAsia Schools, Sorm will travel to different parts of Siem Reap, many of which are rural areas with barely any access, to deliver school supplies to the village students.

Chea Sandap was born in Phnom Penh, where he completed High School in the year 2000. As the number 1 student is his English class, he was awarded a position as a full time teacher with the New York International School, where he worked for 7 years, bringing him to Siem Reap.

In 2009, he expanded his experience from teaching into the field of social work. He started working at a project called the Sangkheum Center, where he was quickly promoted from English Teacher to Young Adult Coordinator. This role involved monitoring young adults in their school and personal lives, finding them training places and equipping them with life skills. Working here, Sandap tutored and mentored a number of young people whom ABOUTAsia now employs as teachers in the English Program!

Currently, Sandap is studying at University, majoring in English Literature and has just completed a certificate from Cambridge University in the field of Education. He brings a host of skills and experience to this position - and we are very excited to have him join the ABOUTAsia Schools Team as we plan to develop and expand the English Program.