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I’ve always admired entrepreneurs, not just because they take huge risks to pursue something that they –and often only they – believe in from the outset. And they believe in themselves at the start in a way many of us only can after years of experience.

I wish that kind of optimistic drive could be taught.

And I’ve especially admired those who pursue a venture not only because they want to build a better product or business – but because they also want to better the way business is done – whether to benefit the environment, the community, or the world at large.

So when on vacation on Cambodia, I heard the story of Sot Kemsour, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. I think too often we think of entrepreneurism as being a product of countries where things like infrastructure and access to credit and capital are non-issues. But here was someone who grew up in a small village in Siem Reap, put himself through night school to learn English while driving a tuk tuk to support himself, and eventually started his own business, operating a fleet of tuk tuks. But when he returned to his village for his wedding and realized how few children were able to afford the public school fees, he sold his business and founded New Hope Cambodia, and organization dedicated to helping the people of Mondul 3 village.

With help from Kerry Huntly Okoh, an Australian he met while she was volunteering in his village, he has not only built a free school for the children, but also training in computers, sewing (Cambodia and Vietnam both have many clothing factories), the restaurant business, sustainable farming, and tourism. And with some programs, like sewing, farming, and tourism, they not only help some students develop skills, but also start their own businesses.

They’ve also built a small health care center, are building a shelter for abused women and children, and conduct outreach throughout the village to help feed and educate the impoverished residents on such areas as human and drug trafficking, alcohol abuse, home repairs, and child care.

What Kemsour doing in his village is inspiring and, as I said before, surprising. I can immediately name 10+ entrepreneurs who made their success and then turned their attention to philanthropy. And I don’t blame them. Building a business is a mission of its own. But to hear about someone who walked away from a growing business – in a place where entrepreneurial success is so rare – made me realize that that optimistic drive can be found globally. And, as may be seen with some of Kemsour’s students, it can be taught.

Tags: Cambodia, entrepreneurs, New Hope Cambodia, philanthropy, social ventures