Matthew Wayne Schroeder was born in Newcastle – in the battlefields area of Kwazulu-Natal - South Africa. In addition to doing an exchange program in Vancouver, he spent time in rural Transkei on outreach projects and taught English in India and Nepal. He was also a practicing monk for a year and a volunteer on a number of humanitarian service projects.

Travel and adventure is his life as demonstrated through his motto: Life is not a job, but an experience. His passions include writing, photography, documentary film, guitar, hiking, nature, cooking, surfing and family. Matthew graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
philosophy and anthropology and subsequently an honours degree in anthropology at the University of Cape Town.