Happy (Belated) Valentine’s Day
February 1, 2020
TukTuk Takes on Covid-19
March 1, 2020
Wing mirrors checked. Fuel topped up. Ignition on. This is the year we refine our impact.
Every day we step closer to TukTuk’s big goal: providing a self-sustaining educational platform for all. If 2019 was the year TukTuk mapped out the road ahead, then 2020 is the year we tighten up our ride, mount a spoiler and hit the highway.
In this article, we’re sharing our goals for 2020, our next steps towards creating materials and services that enable Khmer communities to drive educational growth. Our goals aren’t always simple or without challenges, but they are focused. Buckle up (or at least grab onto a handle), this is our definitive 2020 to-do-list.
#1 Data For Growth
Numbers, conversations, observations. How many bananas do we give out a month? How much do children learn from giant themed storybooks? What stands in the way of a teacher accessing our hand-washing song?
Making decisions on a whim (like starting a tuk-tuk based charity) might have worked for our former years, but these days strategic decision making is everything. Data is the biggest addition to TukTuk’s 2020 roadmap.
The plan is to compile data across three core areas: 1) community needs, 2) Khmer educational material success rates, and 3) AccessBox and Digital Library teacher engagement.
Summary: TukTuk is measuring everything in 2020.
#2 Human-Centred Resources
Human-centred-design is a fancy way of saying tools tailored to the people who need them. Think, inclusive urban planning or left-handed scissors.
In 2020, we will wholeheartedly apply human-centred-design, ensuring teachers are comfortable and benefit from what we provide. Building smarter distribution systems while honing classroom materials are our top priorities.
We have ambitious plans to develop our AccessBox and Digital Library technology further, using field test insights as guidance. We also want to create increasingly aligned preschool programs based on data and chats with teachers.
Summary: TukTuk is going to create better tools for teachers based on need.
#3 Engage Educators
We want teachers to have a voice. We want teachers to own their classroom’s growth. We want teachers to create opportunities together.
This year will see further development of the TukTuk Network - our teacher community spaces, workshops, and online channels. The aim is to instil aspiration in the use of educational resources and techniques. Building an engaged Khmer teacher network plants the seeds of our future expansion.
We will focus on two main areas of teacher engagement. The growth of our Khmer social media output, and our teacher training workshops that introduce TukTuk resources. This communication is vital for achieving goals #1 and #2 in 2020.
Summary: TukTuk will increase communications with teachers in person and online.
#4 Empower Team TukTuk
Frankly, enabling the people who run TukTuk is the most crucial component in achieving our big goal.
This spans every aspect of our charity. From creative work to accounting, community communication to technology development, our growth and, in turn, the positive impact we provide, comes from bettering ourselves.
This year we’re dedicated to upskilling our Khmer staff and providing better tools for them to thrive. We’re also altering our approach to volunteers because of our increasing need for specialist help. The aim is to use marketing to attract volunteers across design, tech development, data, education, and fundraising. Team TukTuk unite.
Summary: TukTuk will invest in the team while calling for specialist volunteers.
#5 Funding & Awareness
“Hey, we’re TukTuk Charity. Whoops, did I accidentally open our grant raising PowerPoint?”.
Telling our story. Making people care. Maintaining financial support. Money makes the world go round, and it equally keeps this charity ticking (*shakes fist at capitalism*).
While last year we built the infrastructure to drive our fundraising efforts (look, new branding), this year we’re ramping up the number of emails and hands we shake. We plan to increase our digital presence and supporter donations while creating more relationships with corporate sponsors and funding partners. But don’t worry, we’re not going to start wearing ties to work any time soon.
Summary: TukTuk will increase fundraising efforts.
#6 Build Our Social Enterprise Arm
Over the years, we've been busy creating TukTuk's beautiful collection of Khmer educational materials. But recently, it's become clear, we can use this wealth of creative work to fund projects by selling products internationally.
Through reworking our Khmer books into dual-language editions, and utilising our collection of illustrations, we will create artistic TukTuk products and merchandise.
Then, by generating extra $$$, we increase our funding security because we're not solely reliant on external money. The list of benefits to this goes on and on (yeah, and it means you can own a sweet TukTuk t-shirt).
Summary: TukTuk will sell books and merchandise to help fund charity work.
Challenges & Needs
So, you’ve got this far in our spiced up to-do list. Ambitious, right? We believe all these goals are achievable through focused efforts.
However, we’re still aware of the challenges that we need to tackle to succeed. Below are the key challenges and needs for TukTuk in 2020. Think you can help?
Challenges:
- Finding time in between TukTuk projects to search for funding is limited.
- Skill shortages make it difficult to continually progress without external help.
- Ensuring the communties we work with understand TukTuk's progress and feel engaged.
Needs:
- Consistent project funding, plus overhead grants to cover salaries and admin
- Fundraisers of all kinds from supporters.
- A new Khmer project manager to join the team.
- Longterm skilled volunteers.
- New equipment and furniture.
- Awareness. Awareness. Awareness.
