The 9th storybook, the library's future, plans for 2024

Staff trip in Siem Reap 🚌

Guess what? We did it again this year – another awesome staff trip! Our destination? The incredible Siem Reap, home to the breathtaking Angkor Wat World Heritage Site! Joining us were the 11-member TukTuk team and six staff members from Adrian's crew in the Philippines and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Some of these members had been supporters of TukTuk's initiatives in the past, and for a few, it was a delightful reunion from the visit the year before.

For a span of three nights and four days, we delved into different attractions, with the awe-inspiring Angkor being a highlight. We also collaborated on creating a music video together (check it out here! 💃) and engaged in a storybook workshop involving the entire staff. Split into two teams, we crafted a children's storybook to go hand in hand with a forthcoming product by Adrian's team, specially designed for sound insulation for children. While the trip wrapped up with the initial draft of the book, its ultimate shape is still a bit of a mystery. 👀

This trip not only facilitated new connections among Adrian's staff but also provided a valuable opportunity for those who typically collaborate online to meet in person. This face-to-face interaction allowed us to understand each other's personalities better, fostering stronger working relationships for the future.

Now we wonder… when can we meet again…? 😊

Rest assured, not a single penny from your generous donations went into our staff trip!

The 9th storybook has made its debut!🎾

After teasing you with glimpses, we're thrilled to finally unveil the 9th Tukbook this month!🎊

This storybook comes to life with the generous support of Lavie, a Cambodian entrepreneur running ADV Tennis, a tennis equipment company in the U.S., dedicated to promoting tennis in Cambodia (check out more about him in the Voluntuker Spotlight below 👇). Titled "Which Sport Is It?," the book is tied to this year's Sea Games in Cambodia and incorporates a quiz element: Together with Ratana and Meakara, the children embark on a guessing game to figure out which sport Jack is talking about. In the process, kids get to discover various popular sports, including favorites in Cambodia and tennis🎾.

At the last workshop, we shared this book with teachers. When we visited the target schools in September, teachers actively engaged in storytelling using this book. After one reading, a teacher asked, "Who wants to read the story by yourself?" A boy eagerly raised his hand, sat in front of the class, and confidently read the story, recalling what the teacher had shared just moments before!

The teacher mentioned that the children in this class have a fondness for reading storybooks. Similarly, they had previously explored "Jack the Giant" and created their own narratives to read aloud. This experience highlights how children's language skills and imaginations are flourishing through such activities. 💭

Khmer of the month

Khmer Word: Prasaeat

Angkor Wat stands as Cambodia's iconic world heritage site. In Khmer, it is referred to as "Prasaeat Angkorvat," translating to "temple," a term commonly used for various monuments. Adding to the list of Cambodia's World Heritage Sites, this September saw the inclusion of Koh Ker in Preah Vihear Province, marking the nation's fourth World Heritage Site after Angkor, the Temple of Preah Vihear, and the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk. Why not seize this opportunity to explore Cambodia and witness the grandeur of "Prasaeat"?

Khmer Food: Cha Mi Suor (Stir-fried vermicelli) 👇

The future of the ML project 🛺

In the previous month's issue, we shared the news that the Mobile Library project, known for lending out toys and storybooks, would conclude this year. Over the course of seven years, these materials have brought joy to many. But are their roles finished here? Not at all – they're still very much active!

Starting next year, instead of using a tuk-tuk to reach target schools and distribute these materials, we'll be entrusting these valuable resources to the Education Offices of Pursat City and the four districts. We'll request teachers in each area, led by the Early Childhood Education Offices, to take charge and continue managing them independently. We believe these fantastic educational materials will now reach preschool classes beyond the original targets, which were previously challenging to access.

Given that numerous TukTuk staff members have young children in their families, we've also shared some of the books with them. Overflowing with storybooks, one staff member exclaimed, "I'm creating a home library so people in my village can also borrow books!" 😊 These educational tools will persist as companions and storytellers for many children, embarking on a new chapter of their journey. ✨

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed toys and storybooks! Your generosity is warmly appreciated by the teachers and children of Pursat Province. 😊

Our vision for 2024 🔭

Can you believe it? We're less than two months into the year. 😲 As for TukTuk, this year holds a significant moment as it marks the conclusion of the CLIP2 project initiated in 2022. Towards the end of this month, we're set to convene a closing meeting for the project, bringing together provincial and district education department staff, principals, and teachers from the designated schools.

But, that's not the end of the story! Come December, the next venture, CLIP3, is set to kick off even earlier. 👏 Thanks to the hard work of Manon and other members from the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and the Rotary Club of Pursat, the project is set to expand next year. It will now include teachers in 26 classrooms across 15 schools in Pursat City and four districts.

Before launching the project, we briefed the Department of Education staff and principals in the target areas. The participating principals showed keen interest in the project and were able to outline the type of support they require for the targeted preschool teachers.

While the fundamental activities of the project will largely mirror those of the current CLIP2, there will be increased collaboration opportunities with members of the Rotary Club of Pursat starting next year. We're eagerly anticipating meeting new like-minded teachers and embarking on a journey of mutual growth through our activities. 🌸

Voluntuker spotlight | Lavie

This time, we shine the spotlight on Lavie, the head of ADV Tennis, whose support played a crucial role in bringing "Which Sport Is It?" to publication, as mentioned in the above article.👆

Short introduction: I'm currently based in the US, near Washington DC, with my family, including my wife, two kids, and one dog. I enjoy playing tennis, pickleball, and basketball on a regular basis. My background is Khmer, and I've had the opportunity to visit Cambodia a few times. I'm always eager to explore ways to contribute and make a positive impact there.

What does your company do?: I founded ADV Tennis, a company dedicated to creating and offering cutting-edge tennis gear. Our product range spans bags, overgrips, dampeners, wristbands, fitness kits, and caps. We're passionate about designing and delivering innovative, top-quality products.

Why tennis in Cambodia?: Tennis, and sports in general, is powerful. I've personally seen how they can change lives for the better. They bring kids and adults together, get them moving, and teach them skills that last a lifetime. My favorite quote is from Nelson Mandela - "Sport has the power to change the world."

What do you hope for the storybook 'Which Sport Is It?': To share tennis with a community of kids to teach them the game but really just to make them aware of tennis and other racket sports. Just as important is the fact that builds their literacy. It's part of my and ADV Tennis' mission to help promote tennis globally.

Interestingly, it turns out that Lavie has ties in Pursat, and in the past, Lavie's aunt served as our partner class teacher! There's a special connection we feel with him!! Thanks to Lavie's support, we were able to produce a storybook focusing on sports, a subject also requested by our target teachers. We are delighted to release it this year, coinciding with the first Sea Games held in Cambodia 😊 Thank you, Lavie!

P.S. He has previously shared his support for TukTuk on our YouTube. Be sure to check this one out, too. 😊

We are currently looking for volunteers with the following skill sets to help TukTuk bring educational resources to Cambodia;

• Google Ads
• Fundraising

If you want to get involved or know someone with skills that could help us spread positive education in Cambodia, hit that link below and say hi (we're friendly, we promise). 😉

Get Involved ⇢

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