About Us

We are Footprint Cafes

Footprint Cafes aspires to become the first global chain of social enterprise book cafes linking our prosperous global tourist industry with prosperous local communities.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. It accounts for 1 in every 10 jobs on our planet and generates approximately 10% of global GDP. Sadly, thriving local tourist markets do not always mean thriving local communities. For many tourism offers only seasonal, poorly paid work which is vulnerable to shocks such as natural disasters or unrest. It is common for big companies not local people to profit from the industry and often the growing volume of tourists puts a strain on natural resources already under pressure. In short, business as usual is not having the positive impact that it could. We want to change that.

We believe that most tourists want to have a positive impact on the places they visit. We believe that most tourists want a high quality, affordable, authentic dining experience. From these beliefs Footprint Cafes was born.

Footprint Cafes offers an easy, enjoyable, affordable way for tourists to give back to host communities simply by visiting our cafes. Each café is built on our three P’s model of: People, Planet, Profit.

People

Providing excellent employment conditions for our local teams and investing in their future through training and skills development allowing them to follow their dreams.

Planet

Sourcing ethically & locally wherever we can as well as doing all we can to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Profit

100% of net profits given as grants back to the local community as educational and entrepreneurial grants decided by a local committee.

We established our first café in Siem Reap, Cambodia in November 2016. Thanks to the generosity of angel investor Dr Darrin Disley, we have start up funding for the first three cafes. As a brand we will grow in towns around the world that have thriving tourist markets but pressing social needs.

Our customers are guaranteed the same high quality, friendly service wherever they are, along with a delicious local menu, safe in the knowledge that their spending power is having a positive impact.

Footprint Cafes is not associated with any faith other than the power of kindness, opportunity and great coffee. We look forward to welcoming you.

Our Journey So Far

Our journey so far

2016

Mar 2016

Launched

Georgina Hemmingway, Footprint Founder, launches Footprint concept in Cambridge, converting a local café, Hot Numbers, into a taste of Cambodia for one night

Mar 2016

GoFundMe Campaign

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

Apr 2016

Enterprise Champion Dr Darrin Disley OBE pledges $150,000

Dr Darrin Disley donates $150,000 to establish Footprint Cafes as a charity and to begin to establish cafes over the world Business Weekly

Apr 2016

Footprint Becomes a Charity

Footprint becomes a charity with Trustees Darrin Disley, Alan Barrell and Michael Carter

Jun 2016

First Footprint café

Property found in Siem Reap to establish first Footprint café

Jun 2016

Book Drive Launched

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

Jul 2016

Renovations in Siem Reap

Renovations begin in Siem Reap

Aug 2016

8,000 Books Collected

8,000 books collected from Cambridge and London sent to Cambodia

Sep 2016

Service Training Begins

Service training begins in Siem Reap

Nov 2016

8,000 Books Arrive

8,000 books arrive in Siem Reap

Nov 2016

Siem Reap Cafe Officially Opens

Footprint Cafes, Siem Reap officially opens

Dec 2016

Angkor Photo Festival

First café hosts the 12^th Angkor Photo Festival welcoming photographers from all over the world

Dec 2016

Further $150,000 Committed To Grow Footprint Model

Enterprise Champion Dr Darrin Disley OBE commits a further $150,000 funding http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/business/business-news/move-over-starbucks-first-footprint-12311576

2017

Jan 2017

First Book Donation

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

Mar 2017

Kate Gross Award

Footprint Cafes receives the Kate Gross Award for Social Enterprise from Cambridge Business Weekly

May 2017

Barista Piseth Reaches Semi-Finals of Barista Competition

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

May 2017

Financially Sustainable

First financial self sustainable month in Siem Reap

2018

May 2018

Footprint’s First Local Grant Committee

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

Aug 2018

First Grants Donated

Footprint donates its first grants to four local organisations: Free to Shine, Caring for Cambodia, Grace House Community Centre and The Ponheary Ly Foundation.

Aug 2018

Renovations Begin On Upstairs Enterprise Centre

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.

Nov 2018

Opening of Enterprise Centre

The Dr Darrin M. Disley OBE Enterprise Centre Opens Co-working

Nov 2018

First Workshop

Piseth Seng, former Footprint member and current Cambodian National Barista Champion gives first workshop in the new enterprise centre.

2019

Mar 2019

Thailand Chosen for Second Footprint Café

The island of Koh Phangan in Thailand is identified as the location for Footprint’s second Café with the idea of supporting green initiatives through grants.

Mar 2019

Cambridge University Visit

Cambridge University’s Belinda Bell, Director of Cambridge Social Ventures, visits Cambodia to lead first workshops on social enterprise and scaling ventures.

May 2019