Foster Growth and Healing for 200 Cambodian Youth

So far, we have been seen that our drop-in center (known as YESIC) is a comfortable place where students can be themselves—play, speak, talk, share, and laugh with peace and happiness. Students have shared and given feedback to us that they like this place, and they have never found a learning center like YESIC.

Since our current drop-in center has been effective, we are planning to open another a drop-in center in a slum area in Phnom Penh in the coming months. We are partnering with another school in that community to use our drop-in center curriculum and activities to offer after-school programming for the children in that urban poor community.

A story of change from a Drop-In Center student

My name is Pich* and I am a 14-year-old boy who is currently in Grade 8. I was born and raised in Phnom Penh, and I have 3 siblings. I currently live in an extended family, consisting of 13 people which includes my grandparents, aunty, siblings, and cousins. My father left my mother and us kids in 2017 when I was only 5 years old, and I have not seen my dad since that time. I was living with my mother but because the living situation was difficult for her, she left the house that we are currently staying in to find work and frequently visits us.

I heard about the Mission Dove Center (YESIC) from my brother’s friend, and I knew it was a place I needed to start going to, hence I began coming here since that time. I am sad and unhappy at home because although my aunty is an okay person in some ways, she has a short temper and uses abusive language and is constantly shouting at me for various things. She is not happy that I spend so much time at YESIC  But I like it here, because I can be myself, play with my friends and not feel sad about my home living situation. I’m able to have some space of my own being that the house I live in has 3 rooms and 13 people which does not leave enough room for me to have space or alone time. Since I started coming to YESIC, I have been happier, and I love it here. The environment is child-friendly, and the teachers and staff are very kind and good to me always. It has become a place where I don’t feel stressed but when I go home, I am very stressed. I spend most of my day at the Center. I come here before school, after school and I join English class, computer class, and art class. I enjoy drawing very much but since I am not quite old enough, I cannot join certain programs at Dove. But I hope to join Leadership club, Men’s group, and Al-Anon groups soon. I also love to play ping pong, play guitar, play board games, and hang out with my friends.

I get treated differently at home from my cousins who take and ruin my belongings, and nothing is done about it. I am always being scolded for something or other, and that makes me feel sad, making me not want to spend time at home. My grandparents are so kind, and my grandfather helps me pay for school, but it worries me that I will be unable to continue studying at the YESIC because his son will be going to university, and he can only afford to pay for one of us at a time. My mother would love to pay but she has no capacity to do so.

I feel the difference between YESIC and other English schools. Most English schools are very different. Here at YESIC I am happy. My aunty notices that I have been happier since I began studying at this Center. Spending time at home makes me feel emotionally exhausted. I always wish to move out of the house, but I am still young and have no capacity to support myself. I keep this home situation in mind to motivate me to study hard in school. I must stay strong, positive and keep being happy. I am unable to express myself freely at home or say what and how I feel because I am afraid that I might be chased out of the house and will have nowhere else to go. But even so I am very thankful for being raised by my aunt as well as my grandparents. Despite it being uncomfortable at home, I still feel happy for the support.

Other miscellaneous things about me: I enjoy watching educational programs because they make me so happy. I keep and care well for all my belongings and I value them so much. I love to think of other people before having to think of myself.  I would love to be independent, and I work hard at school knowing that it’s the best way to move out of the house. Most importantly I appreciate what I have and I am thankful, remembering that others have less than I have. I wish that we could all begin to look at it in that way, then we will be happy all the time.

The two Mission Dove Cambodia Leadership Clubs joined together for an annual retreat with the theme “Knowing myself through nature and friends.” Forty-five people joined - 39 students from the two different clubs plus six helpers and facilitators. Students ranged in age from 14-22 years old. The purpose of the trip was to challenge students to go out of their comfort zones to help them know themselves better and build relationships with each other.

 When we start new clubs each year, the new students are quiet. They don’t want to talk or say anything, because most aren’t friends with each other and have never studied together. They feel uncomfortable speaking and participating. There were several students who didn’t want to go on the trip. They said, “Teacher, I don’t want to go, I feel nothing about going on the trip,” “I have never gone anywhere away from my parents,” I’m scared to be somewhere without my family,” and “I don’t want to go if my friends don’t go with me.” I was dismayed and sad when I heard their feelings. Then our facilitators tried to explain more to convince them to go. We talked to their parents or guardians. Finally, most of them decided to join the trip; only two students couldn’t join because they had a school exam.

 The two days and one night of activities included climbing a mountain, obstacle course games, time for self-reflection, gallery-walk learning and a campfire. We were excited that:

• The students had so much fun and learned a lot from these activities.
• They felt closer to each other, opened their mind and heart to learn and to accept each other.
• They got to know themselves better through the activities, lessons and sharing with other students.
• They made commitments to work on themselves, and relationships with friends and families. 
• They wanted to make more time to join together again for future trips and activities.
• They could see how much a retreat/trip can help them. 

 After the retreat, we saw that students are more active in Leadership Club and feel more comfortable with their clubmates and facilitators. They can speak, participate and share ideas more than before.

Story from Thary, 15 years old

“Hello everyone! My name is Thary. I’m a Leadership Club student. This is the first time for me to join this trip with all my clubmates and teachers. I have never gone anywhere away from my mom. 

 When the teacher announced and asked (us) to come for the trip, I felt strange and scared, then I didn’t want to come. But afterward, the teacher asked to meet and I talked with him and he shared his experiences from the previous clubs. He had experience with students that had the same feelings as me. And he encouraged me to come and learn more from others and to get away from my comfort zone, to have a chance to learn something new from the trip and friends. Then I told all of what the teacher shared and his encouragement to my parents. My parents called the teacher, then they encouraged me to come as well. They wanted me to learn to be alone, wanted to see me strong and meeting new people. I said yes to them, even if I felt I didn’t want to.  

I was afraid that I couldn’t eat, sleep and be with others, but instead of those feelings, what I learned from this trip is: 

• I got to know myself more than before through the lessons and activities.
• I got to know my clubmates and teachers more than before, and a new group that I didn’t know before from another club.
• I participated in and enjoyed all the activities.
• I was able to rest and in my personal time, got to know myself more and reflected on my life. 

Thank you everyone and teachers. I really loved this trip. I much appreciated this retreat that gave me a chance to come and learn a lot from friends, teachers, nature and myself, as well. I feel proud of myself that I made this happen, that I decided to come. Now I feel much better. I feel I’m stronger and more comfortable than before coming. I think this is a good experience in my life. I have never had this kind of time; I learned many good things that will help me more in the future. I also hope I can join more activities in the club.” 

Do you want to help transform the lives of more Cambodian students like Thary?  Click the link below to support Mission Dove Cambodia’s project to foster growth and emotional healing for at-risk youth. GlobalGiving is providing incentive fund for upcoming #GivingTuesday. 

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/at-risk-youth-cambodia-growth-emotional-healing/