Who are we?
Roots Cambodia was established in 2018 by Sarou Hong. It is located less than 11 miles away from the city of Siem Reap, which is famous for Angkor Wat. The organization offers free English classes to over 100 students. Sarou himself was an English teacher, but later on, he switched careers and became an experienced tour guide, leading groups from all over the world across Southeast Asia. He founded Roots Cambodia with the aim of providing the same opportunities for rural Cambodian children in the tourism industry.
“If we can help just 10 children, then they can grow to help a 1000.”_Sarou Hong, founder
Roots is led by Sarou Hong, who grew up in the rural village of Roluos and realized the significance of education, especially the opportunities that learning English could provide.
Sarou’s childhood was centered around family and community. Despite having very little, his family was a great source of inspiration in his life. His father sang to him about becoming a teacher, while his mother emphasized the importance of education and its connection to a successful career. This motivated Sarou to improve not only his position but also that of his family and community, which is the primary objective of Roots.
Sarou’s first exposure to English occurred when he was 11 years old. After the turmoil of the Cambodian civil war, UNTAC peacekeeping soldiers visited Sarou’s village to fix roads, construct polling stations, and educate the locals about the importance of voting in elections. The presence of these soldiers aroused curiosity among the locals about their language. Sarou and his friends were fascinated by a local Cambodian man who spoke to these UN volunteers and asked him to translate. At that moment, Sarou developed a desire to learn English and an understanding that speaking a second language allows you to converse with people from other countries.
Sarou relocated to his cousin’s flat near the world-renowned Angkor Wat in the center of Siem Reap. There was a school nearby, and upon arrival, Sarou spoke to his teacher about his family’s situation, his life in the countryside, and his desire to learn English. As a result, his teacher offered Sarou the chance to attend extra study classes for free if he agreed to come into school early to help run a few errands. This led to future job opportunities for him. To this day, Sarou is incredibly grateful to his cousin and teacher, who made his education possible.
Sarou now wants to offer the opportunity he had, of a good standard of free education, to children in rural villages, hoping they can one day improve themselves and their communities.
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