Education
Tiny Toones unique approach utilizes the popularity of hip-hop amongst young Cambodians to reach those who are most excluded from education. Alongside our Creative classes we run an education program to help them build positive learning experiences, key skills, and the confidence and communication skills necessary to improve their eventual employability and future options.
Tiny Toones opens its doors at 7am every weekday. Classes start from 8am, beginning with two simultaneous Khmer classes (‘kindergarten & grade 1’ and‘grade 2-6 with math’), two English classes (‘kindergarten’ and ‘starter and elementary’) and the computing class. These classes finish by 11am and are repeated in the afternoon. More advanced English classes run from 10-11am (‘elementary and conversation’) and 11-12 (‘advanced’).
Students receive an individual assessment on first registering and are continually encouraged and supported to make the most of all available classes. In break periods students will play games and sports, access the library and computers and enjoy the freedom just to be children in a safe space.
Over 200 children and young people attend each day. A survey in early 2012 found that:
- 183 students said that they come to Tiny Toones everyday (90% of respondents)
- 192 felt more confident as a result of coming to Tiny Toones (95%)
- 178 were able to communicate better (88%)
- 178 had improved their Khmer (88%)
- 158 had improved their English (78%)
- 132 had improved at math (65%)
In 2012 Tiny Toones was shortlisted for the UNICEF Sport for Education award at the Beyond Sport awards.
