GoFundMe Campaign goes live to raise first £5,000 https://www.gofundme.com/FootprintCafes

Footprint officially becomes a charity.  Footprint’s board of Trustees from left to right: Michael Carter,  Alan Barrell and Chair of Trustees  Dr Darrin M. Disley OBE

Book drive launched in London and Cambridge to gather stock for Footprint’s first cafe in Cambodia

Renovations begin in Siem Reap

Footprint pledges to donate its used cooking oil to Naga Earth, an innovative local social enterprise in Siem Reap that converts used cooking oil into soap and biodiesel.

Service training begins in Siem Reap. Footprint’s new team find their feet in Footprint’s Taster Sessions Fortnight. For two weeks the local community is invited to try Footprint’s new dishes, give feedback and pay what they feel the meal is worth. The feedback forms the basis for Footprint’s opening menu.

Team bonding begins as Footprint joins the local community in a day long street clean.

Footprint Cafes, Siem Reap officially opens

Footprint partners with Green Gecko project Rehash Trash, donating all plastic bags from supply chain to the project. Rehash Trash employs family members from the Green Gecko family to turn used plastic bags into beautiful household objects such as bins, coasters, wine holders and mats.

Footprint partners with the Siem Reap Food Co-Op donating used coffee grounds for their compost.

Footprint Siem Reap makes it first book donations to Bridge of Life School

Footprint’s Barista Piseth makes it to the semi-finals of the Cambodian National Barista competition

First financial self sustainable month in Siem Reap

Footprint forms its first grant committee: Manager Pheakdey, Deputy Manager India, Supervisor Mealea and Chef Pechra

Soulcial Trust make Footprint’s offices their new home. Soulcial Trust’s mission is to raise awareness about issues and causes related to disability and the environment in Cambodia.

Footprint joins the Refill Not Landfill Movement. The cafe sells reusable bottles and becomes a water station to refill from.

Work begins on turning the cafe’s upstairs space into an enterprise centre. The space hopes to become a valuable resource for Siem Reap’s young entrepreneurial talent.

Local social enterprise, Naga Earth, gifts Footprint bottomless soap dispensers. Naga Earth converts used cooking oil into biodiesel and soap. As a provider of used cooking oil, Footprint is given a free supply of soap for the cafe team and customers to enjoy.

The Dr Darrin M. Disley OBE Enterprise Centre opens for its first day of Co-working 

Footprint’s enterprise centre hosts a pop-up barbers as part of Soulcial Trust’s programme to support young Cambodians start their own businesses.

Second Matched Fund Saving Scheme paid out to the Footprint team with 100% of the team enrolled in the scheme.

Footprint starts its own ‘Enterprise Tuesday’ talks. The idea comes directly from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School’s successful series. The free talks bring together experienced entrepreneurs and members of the business community with aspiring professionals and students. The series aims to provide insights into local businesses journeys, their aspirations and challenges overcome in order to inspire others. The series opens with Grasshopper Adventures a popular international  travel company started with a handful of bikes and a credit card.

Footprint hosts a free screening of ‘Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll’. The Documentary, by John Pirrozi, traces the impact of the rise of the Khmer Rouge on Cambodia’s thriving rock music scene in the 1970s.

Footprint hosts its third ‘Enterprise Tuesday’ talk with special guests Pactics – the manufacturing partner for mission-driven lifestyle brands. Pactics built its factory in Siem Reap in order to help diversify the local jobs market. Designed by architect Stuart Cochlin, their factory features 120 solar panels, a biodiesel generator, rainwater harvesting, a library, an on-site nurse, a daycare, a canteen (serving up healthy lunches) and plenty of greenery around the site. A socially responsibly business that wins tenders with top brands such as Gucci and Ray Ban.

Cambridge University’s Belinda Bell, Director of Cambridge Social Ventures, visits Cambodia to lead Footprint’s first workshops on social enterprise. The free two day event is focused towards local Siem Reap organizations hoping to scale their ventures.