VMRTN Presents Funtiq: Turning Guilt Time into Growth Time

At VMRTN, our mission is to empower newcomer and racialized communities by providing the tools for personal and professional growth. In our commitment to this mission, we are proud to announce a new partnership with Funtiq, a mission-driven educational program developed by a partnership of Canadian non-profit organizations.

Together, we are transforming the time children in our community spend with screens into an active, joyful, and insightful learning experience. For them, it’s play. For their parents, it’s peace of mind.

From Passive Watching to Active Learning

Most screen time is a one-way street. It displaces the crucial back-and-forth interactions that are essential for development. Research shows that passive screen use is linked to delays in language and cognitive skills. Funtiq was created to be the alternative. Its mission is to provide a minds-on experience that builds critical skills through play.

A Partnership Built on a Foundation of Trust

Funtiq shares VMRTN’s non-profit values. The platform is built on a foundation of trust: No ads. No confusing billing. No selling your data. Ever. It is an experience designed to support the holistic development of the whole child, ensuring that every interaction is a chance to grow.

Learn more

The Funtiq initiative is just one more way VMRTN is working to provide the most effective, modern, and empowering support to our communities. To learn more about our programs or to find out how you can get involved, please visit our Programs page.

How Funtiq Empowers VMRTN's Programs

VMRTN is integrating Funtiq’s innovative platform across our core services, providing a unique, mission-aligned tool that supports children, parents, and our next generation of leaders.

After-School Program: Learning to Write Has Never Been So Magical

For newcomer children, our after-school program is a vital space for building confidence and community. Funtiq is now a core part of this experience, turning homework help into an adventure.

  • Foundational Skills: Funtiq’s intelligent tracing game makes learning to write a captivating experience. It helps children develop the fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and letter recognition that are crucial for building literacy in a new language.
  • Holistic Development: The curriculum, designed with experts in Developmentally Appropriate Practice, goes beyond ABCs and 123s. It covers everything from math and literacy to creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning, supporting the healthy adjustment and sense of belonging that is essential for newcomer youth.
 

Single Mother Program: Insights, Not Just Data

We recognize the unique challenges single mothers face. Funtiq is a powerful resource we provide to the families in this program, offering peace of mind and empowering parents.

  • Connecting On and Off-Screen: The Intelligent Parent Dashboard translates gameplay into meaningful insights about a child’s unique development. Instead of just seeing that a child spent 20 minutes on math, a parent will see what specific skills they are developing and get suggestions for off-screen activities, like building with blocks, to support that growth.
  • Guidance You Can Trust: Funtiq is built around the “5 Cs” framework for healthy media use, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It provides a positive tool, not just a distraction, helping mothers make the best choices for their family.
 

Youth Programs: Building Real-World Experience

Our youth entrepreneurship program is about gaining hands-on experience. Through our partnership with Funtiq, our young entrepreneurs get a unique opportunity to engage directly with a mission-driven technology startup.

  • Hands-On Learning: Participants act as a youth advisory council, providing critical feedback, testing new modules, and learning the fundamentals of educational technology (EdTech) product development.
  • Developing In-Demand Skills: This project gives our youth direct experience in market research, user testing, and content strategy, providing them with the innovative thinking and resilience needed to turn their own ideas into reality.
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Special thanks to our partners