6th school visits, 2nd classroom assessment

The 6th school visits 🚙

As a follow-up to the sixth workshop held in May, we visited the target preschools last month. Based on the pre-survey conducted prior to our visit, we found that teachers had been downloading and using not only the usual picture books, songs, and worksheets—which have remained popular—but also a wider range of materials from our website, including activity games, board games, and crafts.

During our classroom visits, we observed that some teachers were actively using materials introduced during the workshop, while others had created their own worksheets using their computers. Several teachers were also using resources they had discovered on the TUKTUK website, and in some cases, they were even producing our materials on behalf of colleagues who were not part of the project. Compared to the first year, the way teachers are engaging with and utilizing the teaching materials has evolved significantly.

The 2nd classroom assessment ✅

Cambodian preschools follow a classroom standard that requires five designated “corners” for learning and decoration. As part of the CLIP3 project, two assessments were scheduled over a two-year period to track classroom improvements. The second classroom assessment was conducted last month.

In collaboration with staff from the regional early childhood education departments, we visited the target schools and evaluated each classroom using a standardized assessment chart. The outcome was encouraging: all 26 target classrooms scored higher than in the previous evaluation.

This improvement reflects the impact of key project initiatives, such as the creation and use of decorative teaching materials and the distribution of picture books. Since the project’s launch, classrooms have been better stocked with picture books, and teachers who once said, “I don’t have the budget” or “I’m not good at making things,” began creating handmade toys and decorations. Through the workshops, they learned to use materials readily available around them, which helped brighten and enrich their classroom environments.

One teacher shared that a non-project teacher visiting her class was so inspired by the decorations that she printed out the materials and used them in her own classroom. Another teacher proudly mentioned that parents had praised her for how well the classroom was arranged. These are just a few examples of the commitment and creativity the teachers have shown throughout the past two years. ✨

Khmer of the month

Khmer Word: Tong Plastic

July 3 is International Plastic Bag Free Day—a global reminder to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags and raise awareness about environmental protection.

In Cambodia, tong plastic (plastic bags) have recently been subject to charges in large supermarkets. However, they are still widely used in local markets, and many end up discarded on the streets.

To help spark environmental awareness among children and families, TUKTUK is currently developing a picture book about recycling—a fun and educational way to inspire more eco-friendly habits!

Khmer Food: Nom Krok (Coconut milk flavored baked sweets) 👇

Sharing TukTuk's story with the world 🎥

This past week, we were thrilled to welcome David and Simon to the TUKTUK headquarters in Pursat, Cambodia. Both have been working closely with us to secure new funding, and as part of that mission, they’re producing a short documentary to showcase the impact of our work in early childhood education.

Over the course of the week, they filmed inside classrooms, interviewed teachers and parents, visited schools, and even spoke with a senior official from the Department of Education. The footage they captured will help us share TUKTUK’s story with a wider audience as we prepare to launch a new fundraising campaign running through December.

At the heart of our work is a free Khmer-language website filled with storybooks, games, and printable resources for teachers and families. And soon, we’ll be releasing the pilot episode of Play School Cambodia on YouTube—a joyful new series that brings play-based learning into homes across the country. We’ve already secured partial permission to use the original Play School theme song, and we can’t wait to share this with children across Cambodia.

If you know someone passionate about early learning, please share this newsletter with them!

Three-month outcomes (Apr - Jun 2025) 🎉

Once again, April to June brought intense heat, but the TUKTUK staff powered through and accomplished the following activities 🔥. For more detailed activity reports, please visit here.

• Main Highlight
• May 2025 – The 6th Workshop
• June 2025 – The 6th Follow-Up Visits
• TukTuk’s Social Media Growth (and still climbing! 🙌)
• Facebook – 7,761 followers
• Teachers' Facebook Group – 6,305 members
• Telegram Channel – 3,879 followers
• YouTube – 9,865 subscribers
• Rermork Digital Library Visitors (Apr–Jun 2025)

38,917 people accessed the platform during this period.

In July and August, we will hold our final workshops and follow-up school visits.

During our school visits throughout the year, many teachers have asked, “Is the project ending soon?” or “How many more times will you visit our preschool?” From next year onward, we won’t be seeing our current target teachers as frequently as before.

While it’s bittersweet to hear such sentiments, we hope that by the end of this year, each teacher will see their “graduation from the project” not as a farewell, but as a proud and joyful milestone.

Voluntuker spotlight | David

This month, we’re excited to introduce David, a VolunTUKer from Australia—also briefly mentioned above 👆. Alongside Simon, whom we introduced last month, David is supporting TUKTUK remotely as we prepare for next year’s project.

What is your current job?: Currently, I am between jobs, so I work as a home renovator and stay-at-home dad to my 16- and 12-year-old kids. However, more often, I work for the Australian government as an independent decision-maker. Sometimes I make factual films for non-government organisations.

How did you first get involved with TUKTUK?: I found out about TUKTUK from a friend of a friend who also works in Cambodia. It sounded like such a good project that I wanted to find a way to contribute.

What do you do for TUKTUK?: I have some experience with funding applications, so I am working on an application that may secure support for the next stage of Tuktuk's project.

What was the purpose of your travel to Pursat last month?: It was nice to meet Adrian and Mayu in person and see what they did firsthand. I also collected images and videos that will be useful for our funding application.

David most recently worked for the Australian Commonwealth Government as an independent decision maker, and spent decades before that designing and delivering programs for homeless and delinquent children. He’s also a passionate filmmaker—his best-known work, My Thai Bride, won awards at major international film festivals and aired in over 30 countries.

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

• Google Ads
• Fundraising
• Website Development
• Videographer

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 ⇢

Tuktography highlights 📸