CLIP2 closing meeting, 2023 outcomes, book fair preparation

CLIP 2 team closing ceremony🎊

On November 21, we concluded CLIP2, a two-year project that kicked off in January 2022. Throughout this initiative, we collaborated with staff from the state, four regional education bureaus, 14 principals, and preschool teachers from 10 schools. This effort was made possible through the support of the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown and the Rotary Club of Pursat.

Our engagement primarily involved working closely with the Education Department staff and preschool teachers. Our role extended beyond merely supplying TukTuk with teaching materials and ideas; we actively sought input from teachers, welcoming their requests for new materials and suggestions for modifications. This dynamic exchange of ideas marked a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Teachers who participated in the workshop expressed satisfaction, highlighting their valuable experience in adopting new teaching ideas and techniques for creating instructional materials over the two years. They voiced their desire to continue participating in future workshops and noted that the increased variety of teaching materials positively impacted student engagement.

Although the teachers involved in this project may not be eligible for the next one, we look forward to receiving numerous ideas for TukTuk teaching materials in the future. Additionally, we hope some of them will join us in new projects next year, sharing their experiences with the next cohort of target teachers who embark on the project.

Our aspiration is that those teachers who have expanded their skills and perspectives through the CLIP2 project will emerge as leaders among kindergarten teachers in their respective communities. 😊 Our interaction with our teachers will persist as we move forward!

Two years of project progress 👣

Now, let's take a brief look at the accomplishments TukTuk has made over the past two years 👇:

• Developed four new resource packages
  • 7th TukBook, titled "Being Good"
  • 8th TukBook, titled "We Can - Just Differently"
  • Classroom Decorations
  • 9th TukBook, titled "Which Sport Is It?"
• Conducted seven workshops
  • Creating Lessons Using All Nine TukBooks with Discussions on Subject Ideas and Lesson Plans.
  • Introduction to the Nine Resource Packages: Unveiling Storybooks, Activity Games, Songs, and Worksheets.
  • Guidelines and Creation of Classroom Decorations: Explaining the Process with the Assistance of Provincial and District Education Department Staff.
  • Introduction to the Use of the Wi-Fi Hotspot, "AccessBox," and the TukTuk Free Teaching Materials Website.
  • How to Use the TukTuk Free Teaching Materials Site with a Tablet.
  • Worksheet Creation Using A Computer.
• Seven follow-up school visits
• Three teaching implementation surveys for teachers
• Two classroom decoration evaluations with provincial and district education department staff.

In summary, we successfully executed a range of new and often challenging activities at TukTuk, leveraging the strengths of our dedicated staff and fostering collaboration to make consistent progress. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the Rotary team, the Education Department staff, and the participating teachers for their invaluable contributions to this project.

During this journey, we connected with new teachers, contributing to TukTuk's increased visibility. The two years of exchanging ideas and opinions with teachers have not only deepened our understanding of preschool education in Cambodia but have also marked a significant improvement for TukTuk.

Building on this valuable experience, we are eager to refine our skills as we embark on CLIP3, which is set to commence this month. 💪 Your continued support for TukTuk's endeavors in the future is warmly appreciated. 😊

Khmer of the month

Khmer Word: Sievphow Thom

December 7th is celebrated as "World Kamishibai Day," a fantastic occasion to share the enchantment of Kamishibai, a storytelling technique originating in Japan. Kamishibai involves using standard-sized illustrated paper cards alongside a narrated performance. While it has its roots in Japan, it has gained popularity worldwide. TukTuk has created its version, bringing this delightful storytelling method to Cambodia. Some of our wonderful teachers even say that "Kamishibai shows are fantastic for showcasing big, captivating pictures."

This month's Khmer word is "Sievphow Thom (Kamishibai)," which directly translates to "big picture book." Teachers here prefer this expression, so, at TukTuk, we either use "Kamishibai" or the Khmer term. During our workshops, we chat with teachers about creating lesson plans using picture-story shows and how to read them to the students. 📖

Join us in spreading the joy of KAMISHIBAI around the world! 🌟

Khmer Food: Kangkeb Baok Ang (Frog stuffed with pork) 👇

We are extremely busy with the book fair preparation! 😮

Last year marked our first participation in the Cambodia Book Fair, the country's largest book festival in Phnom Penh. It was a valuable opportunity for many Cambodians to get acquainted with TukTuk, so we've decided to set up a booth again this year! Our offerings include Tukbooks, Kamishibai, classroom decorations, and worksheets.

But here's the kicker! As you probably know, all TukTuk materials are "handmade." Printing and binding a substantial number of books posed quite a challenge for our small team... That's where Guy, our dedicated voluntuker, stepped in. ✨ Starting in November, he devoted nearly every day for a month to helping us laminate over 3,000 sheets of Kamishibai. Without Guy's invaluable assistance, completing the project on time wouldn't have been possible, and we're incredibly grateful for his support.

We've poured a lot of effort into these educational materials, and we're hopeful that many people will get to see, appreciate, and maybe even buy them. This year's event spans four days, from December 14 to 17, and we're eagerly anticipating connecting with even more people than last year. If you are in Phnom Penh, please drop by. 👣

Voluntuker spotlight | Chanthuch

In this edition, we're thrilled to shine a spotlight on Chanthuch, a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Pursat (RCP).

What's your role at RCP?: I'm currently serving as a general staff member and set to take on the role of president next year.

What do you do outside RCP?: I manage a school run by the Rotary Club in the province of Pursat.

Impression of CLIP2: Having visited the target schools and actively participated in the workshops, I believe CLIP2 is an outstanding project that will significantly enhance the quality of preschool education in Cambodia, particularly in Pursat. The training provided to target teachers, covering computers, teaching materials, classroom decoration, and other skills aligning with the Ministry of Education's standards, is crucial. Young children are like blank slates, requiring a conducive classroom environment and support from knowledgeable teachers.

Hopes for Preschool Education in Cambodia: Recognizing preschool education as the cornerstone of a child's learning journey, we aspire to see the provision of excellent teaching materials, proficient teachers, and high-quality classroom environments for children. Additionally, we wish to see the spread of technological knowledge in Cambodian preschools, especially those in rural areas distant from cities, ensuring children receive a well-rounded basic education.

Chanthuch, though a quiet person, consistently poses insightful questions during our interviews with teachers, encouraging them to delve deeper. Set to become the next RCP president, he played an active role in CLIP 2. We're looking forward to collaborating with him again in CLIP 3, seeking his valuable input for upcoming workshops and various activities.

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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