11th storybook, provincial meeting, CLIP3 award

New storybook is ready! ✨

We’re excited to announce the completion of our 11th picture book, Be Careful, Be Safe! This storybook introduces children to everyday objects that are both useful and potentially dangerous—like water, fire, and bicycles.

Each book we create follows a theme aligned with the Cambodian Guidelines for Early Childhood Education. This time, the story connects to the “Environment” area, focusing on safety.

To make learning even more fun, we’ve also developed a variety of interactive materials, including games, songs, and worksheets. While the story is in Khmer, the activities—such as mazes and spot-the-mistake challenges—are easy to follow through pictures.

Why not explore them with your children during playtime? 😊

Annual provincial educational conference 👩‍🏫

The Provincial Department of Education once again hosted its annual educational conference for the entire province of Pursat. This year’s event was particularly significant, because the Minister of Education from Phnom Penh was also present, with attendees including department staff, education sector managers, principals from each regional office, and representatives from education-related NGOs.

During the conference, each section of the Department of Education presented their 2024 achievements and outlined their goals for the coming year. For the first time, TukTuk had the opportunity to give a presentation. Though brief, it allowed us to showcase the impact of the CLIP3 project, highlighting the transformation in classrooms and the dedication of our target teachers—something that isn’t always easy to convey in person.

The conference concluded with an Outstanding Teacher Awards ceremony, where four teachers from the 2022–23 CLIP2 project and five from the 2022–23 CLIP3 project were recognized for their excellence ✨. Of course, we know that many dedicated teachers go unrecognized, and we are incredibly proud to be working with them through our projects!

Khmer of the month

Khmer Word: Chhukae

February 20 is National Love Your Pet Day! In Cambodia, dogs were traditionally kept as guard animals in many households. However, in recent years, pet ownership has been evolving, especially in the capital, where pet shops have become more common. While rabies prevention remains essential, the number of Chhukae (dogs) as beloved pets is expected to grow in the coming years. 🐶

Khmer Food: By Cha Kapit (Shrimp paste fried rice) 👇

CLIP3 project receives prestigious BELRAG award! 🏅

Now in its second year, the CLIP3 project has reached an exciting milestone—it has been recognized by BELRAG (the Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group), a global initiative of Rotary Clubs International dedicated to advancing literacy education!

This award is granted based on several key criteria:

1. Addressing the needs of the target audience
2. Having a broad and meaningful impact
3. Promoting literacy activities through social media, media coverage, and events
4. Engaging Rotary Club members in the project
5. Aligning with the needs of the community
6. Demonstrating effectiveness in improving literacy outcomes

For those of us working directly on the project, it’s not always easy to see the full impact of our efforts. However, through the growth of our social media reach, the positive feedback from target teachers, and the tangible improvements in classroom learning, we recognize the significance of what we’re achieving.

Receiving this recognition from an external organization is truly rewarding, and we are excited to share this honor with our dedicated target teachers. As we move forward into 2025, we remain committed to making an even greater impact! 💪

A heartfelt thank you to the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, the Rotary Club of Pursat, and TukTuk Krousah for your unwavering support! 🙌

Voluntuker spotlight | Guy

This month, we are excited to welcome Guy back for the second time! Guy has been visiting Pursat since mid-January to continue supporting our work. For over five years, he has been a dedicated volunteer and fundraiser for TukTuk and other charities. This time, he has generously donated a portion of the proceeds from his used bookstore, LOCH NESS BOOKS CHARITY BOOK STALL, which he operates from his home in Inverness, Scotland. We’re grateful for his ongoing commitment to making a difference!

When did you first come to Pursat and meet TukTuk? : I first came to Pursat around October 2013 to volunteer at a school run by an NGO in the city. In August 2014, I returned to the same school for another volunteer opportunity, and that was when I first met Adrian and Mayu. That encounter led me to start helping and volunteering regularly at TukTuk as well.

What is Pursat like for you? : The town and surrounding area of Pursat, for me, represents a side of Cambodia that most travelers/tourists DON'T see. It’s an ordinary rural town where people go about their day-to-day lives. While it may not have the typical 'must-see' sights, that’s what makes it ALL the MORE special. The people here are very down-to-earth, friendly, and welcoming, and from the very first day, I felt it was a town I would enjoy living and working in—and I’ve been proven right.

That said, in the time I’ve been here, it has changed a lot, especially in the last 3-4 years, which reflects the broader transformation happening across Cambodia.

What do you think about TukTuk?: TukTuk is a great organization doing essential work in education, and the expression "Ordinary people doing extraordinary things" truly applies to them. What they do REALLY makes a huge impact on early education in the area. Additionally, I admire how they empower local teachers to express themselves and take the lead in moving their schools and communities forward.

What you want for the children of Cambodia: I am not so sure. "Hope" is the right word for Cambodia's children. From my work here, I KNOW that in the field of education, things are changing rapidly, and I can see the improvements very clearly. There is still much more to do, but with the help of many great organizations, education in Cambodia is providing the youth with the right platform and tools to go out into the world and do great things.

Guy’s used bookstore is much more than just a place for secondhand books! Twice a year, he organizes flea markets to sell items that are no longer in use. In addition to this, Guy crafts and sells birdcages and wall decorations to fund TukTuk’s activities and support two other organizations. Through these efforts, he raises money each year and personally delivers it to the sites.

Beyond his financial contributions, Guy’s support extends to the hands-on work he does for us. He has been instrumental in laminating and sorting materials for our upcoming workshops. His enthusiasm and dedication are truly invaluable. Not only does he provide financial assistance, but he also actively helps us in the office with various tasks. His seriousness and diligence in everything he does are qualities we can all learn from.

Thank you, Guy, for your unwavering support and warm dedication!

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). 😉

Get Involved ⇢

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