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SeeBeyondBorders partners with international law firm
Allen & Overy has provided funds and pro bono legal advice to a charity dedicated to improving the quality of teaching and learning at schools in Cambodia.
Lauren Croft
Firm: Allen & Overy (SeeBeyondBorders).
Value: N/A.
Area: Not for profit.
Key players: Sarah Wilson, partner in the A&O Bangkok office, is leading the pro bono efforts with SeeBeyondBorders and working with chief executive of SeeBeyondBorders Edward Shuttleworth.
Deal significance: SeeBeyondBorders was founded in 2008 in response to the lack of qualified and educated teachers and extremely poor learning outcomes in Cambodian primary schools. The charity, which is endorsed by Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, has contributed to the National Education Strategic Plan and improved the teaching quality of over 500 teachers and positively impacted the learning of over 27,000 children.
Allen & Overy’s funding will support the SeeBeyondBorders Educational Changemakers project that aims over two years to provide five Cambodian female graduates with a training program designed to equip them with the high-level skills and knowledge required to be educational leaders who can positively influence the development of the Cambodian education system.
Ms Wilson commented that “supporting access to education, social mobility and female leadership are key priorities” for the firm’s pro bono efforts.
“We are excited to be working on this project with SeeBeyondBorders in supporting them to change the future of education in Cambodia, particularly as COVID-19 has caused substantial learning losses for children due to school closures. The project is an innovative approach to encouraging ambitious young women to enter the education sector and advocate for positive change for the future generation of children,” she said.
CEO of SeeBeyondBorders Edward Shuttleworth added: “We are delighted that the global grants committee at Allen & Overy has chosen to fund our fledgling Educational Changemakers project in 2022.
“Change is led by people and organisations with vision and we look forward to working together with the team at Allen & Overy to inspire promising young Khmers and broaden their horizons. It is this next generation of young Cambodians who will be the ones to lead their communities and secure a quality education for the development of their own country.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
