TukTalk 84: Pchum Ben Day, an audit, student collaboration
November 15, 2024
TukTalk 86: CLIP3 annual meeting and JICA area convention
January 10, 2025TukTalk · Issue 85 · December 2024
The Water Festival, new collaboration, new project
Looking back on 2024: the Water Festival, over 30 resources donated by Caring for Young Refugees, plans beyond 2026, and Yuri's apron theatre visit.
Thank you for supporting us throughout 2024! 🥰
As we approach the final month of the year, we know everyone’s schedules are packed. How has 2024 been for you? For TukTuk, it’s been an inspiring and eventful year. From the launch of CLIP3 to connecting with new partner teachers and organisations—and even receiving the JICA Entrepreneurship Award for Social Contribution by Returned Volunteers—this year has been full of growth.
While TukTuk’s work may not be glamorous, it’s meaningful. Beyond workshops and school visits, much of our work happens behind the scenes in our office. Unlike the image you might have of an NGO building schools or working directly with children, our team focuses on empowering preschool teachers by creating practical, much-needed teaching materials. These materials are then shared with children by the teachers, creating a real and lasting impact. Hearing their feedback fuels our motivation and fills us with pride in what we do.
All of this is possible because of your continued support, and we are deeply grateful. We believe TukTuk’s potential is even greater, and we hope you’ll keep cheering us on as we move forward together.
Wishing you a joyful end to the year and a bright start to the new one!
Warm regards,
Adrian, Mayu, & Milly 🦘👘🧒
The Water Festival 'Bon Om Touk' 🚣
From November 14th to 16th, Cambodia celebrated its annual Water Festival, marking the end of the rainy season. Held under the full moon, this three-day event is a vibrant showcase of Cambodian culture, featuring moon offerings, traditional dances, and more.
The highlight of the festival? The exhilarating boat races! Over 300 teams from provinces across Cambodia competed over three days, with this year’s champion proudly hailing from Pursat Province, where TukTuk is based! 🎊 The celebration didn’t end there—Pursat City held a grand victory parade the following day, transforming the town into a jubilant spectacle.
This year’s festival was even more special as it coincided with the 20th anniversary of the King’s coronation. The royal palace was adorned with dazzling decorations, adding a majestic touch to the festivities. More than 6.2 million people joined the celebrations, which turned the streets into bustling pedestrian zones filled with food stalls. In the evenings, families gathered on mats to enjoy breathtaking fireworks and illuminated boats presented by various ministries.
The Water Festival offers a unique glimpse into Cambodian life and culture. Spectator seats for the boat races are even reserved for international visitors, so if you’re intrigued, mark your calendar for next November’s celebration—you won’t want to miss it!
Collaboration with a Cambodian early childhood education support organisation 🤝
We’re excited to announce our collaboration with the Cambodian Office of Caring for Young Refugees (CYR/CYK), a group dedicated to early childhood education in Cambodia since 1980. The office’s representative, coincidentally from Pursat, is a seasoned expert with 18 years of experience in refugee support and education initiatives.
Their work aligns closely with ours, including creating educational materials in partnership with the Ministry of Education, developing curricula for community-run preschools, and conducting teacher workshops.
Sadly, the Cambodian office is closing this year. However, they have generously donated over 30 types of valuable resources—including storybooks and educational toys—to preserve their legacy and extend their impact. These materials are now available through our free educational material site and YouTube channel, with even more to come!
This partnership has not only enriched our resources but also allowed us to honor CYR/CYK’s legacy by making these materials accessible to a broader audience of educators. We hope they will continue to support teachers and children throughout Cambodia.
To learn more about their remarkable journey in Cambodia, check out their activities here!
Khmer of the month
Khmer Word: Daikou
This year, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with many incredible partners, or “Daikou” as we call them—including REAN AAN, a Cambodian startup group, Japanese university students, and Caring for Young Refugees (CYR/CYK), among others. These partnerships have allowed TukTuk to broaden its scope and diversify the educational materials we offer.
By building a strong network of collaborators in early childhood education, we believe we can work together to enhance Cambodia’s education sector and inspire even greater progress!
On another exciting note, our Japanese-language introduction page for TukTuk is now live. As we strive to connect with even more “Daikou” and expand our activities in the coming year, we would greatly appreciate it if you could share our website within your network.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support! 😌
Khmer Food: Brahok Khteah (A Cambodian condiment based on coconut milk) 👇
Looking ahead to the 2026 project 🔭
We’re excited to announce that, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Rotary Club members supporting the CLIP project—especially Manon from the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown—we’re on track to continue our work beyond 2026. In October, our team began discussions and preparations to shape the project's next phase, including defining its focus and target audience.
What makes this initiative particularly exciting is its fresh and innovative approach, setting it apart from previous CLIP projects. Following the success of our free educational materials website, this new project promises to be another “Cambodia-first” innovation! Stay tuned for more updates as the plans take shape. 😊
As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to collaborating closely with teachers involved in the current CLIP3 initiative to advance early childhood education. Together, we’ll continue making meaningful progress!
Voluntuker spotlight | Yuri
This month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on Yuri, affectionately known as “Yuri-baa” (meaning “Grandma Yuri” in Japanese). During her visit to TukTuk in May, she delighted children at partner preschools with her captivating apron theatre performances and engaging stories.
Yuri-baa—Mayu’s mother and Milly’s grandmother—is a seasoned professional with 17 years of experience as a preschool teacher and 35 years as a beloved “Storytelling Lady.” So, what were her impressions of Cambodian preschools?
Impressions of Pursat in May 2024: Compared to my first visit to Pursat in 2015, the city has progressed so much—it was astonishing! 😮
Thoughts on visiting the partner preschools: The children’s genuine and sparkling reactions left a deep impression on me.
The charm of being a preschool teacher: Watching the growth of children firsthand!
Hopes for Cambodian kindergarten teachers: Play lots with the children, sing many songs, and read them plenty of picture books! 🎵
During her visit in May, she performed apron theater and sang stories, with Mayu translating into Khmer. However, even before the translations, the children’s enthusiastic reactions proved how much fun they were having, transcending the language barrier.
A particularly memorable moment came when, weeks after her visit, a child asked us, “Is the storyteller coming today?” 😊 It was heartwarming to realize how much her visit had left an impression on them—proof of her expertise in creating a magical environment for children.
The songs and apron theatre performances from her visit will soon be available on YouTube and our free educational materials site. Don’t miss them! 👀
We are currently looking for volunteers with the following skill sets to help TukTuk bring educational resources to Cambodia;
- Google Ads
- Fundraising
- Website Development
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). 😉
Tuktography highlights 📸
