Hope Restored

Stories of Change at Mission Dove Youth Learning Center

At the Mission Dove Cambodia facility in Beoung Tumpun, a suburb of Phnom Penh, a safe space has been created to welcome the youth in the area to come and learn, to relax and generally hang out with other youth and the Dove leaders.

We disciple young leaders to become wounded healers. A wounded healer has dealt with difficult and painful past experiences well and has become an effective leader, and now can better help others become emotionally and spiritually mature. At the Dove center we believe that when youth are given safe and supportive environments, they not only thrive emotionally but also unlock their full potential to grow through a supportive environment. With skill development and language learning, they can become more confident, more expressive, and better prepared for their future.

Every day in the center, we have more than 80 youth who come to hang out and study. Mission Dove has been providing them with English, Computer class, music class, chess club and leadership club. Through this ministry, we hope all the youth will experience the love of Jesus through his servants and know how much Jesus loves them. 

Somnob is the young man on the left.

My Story of Change – Somnob

My name is Somnob. I live with my Mom, Dad, and two younger brothers and I live in Stung Meanchey, a small area in Phnom Penh.  It is quite far from Mission Dove. I guessed it may take 15 to 20 minutes to ride my moto from my house to Dove, but it is fine for me because I feel Mission Dove is like my second house. I’ve always enjoyed football, ping pong, watching movies, and playing games with friends. A big change in my life started four years ago, in 2021, when I first came to Mission Dove and participated in the “YESIC” program.

I came to YESIC because I had friends who attended, and I heard it was a good place to study, and it was inexpensive. I wanted to improve my English, so after I did the language test, I was placed in the Level 5 class. I felt comfortable at YESIC right away due to having friends here and everyone else being very friendly and welcoming.

When I first came, I didn’t have much confidence. I used to stutter a lot when I spoke English. However, the more I have studied at YESIC, the more my confidence has grown. Here I’ve improved my English knowledge and become a lot more comfortable speaking it. I can now speak and understand native English speakers much better due to the different teachers here and the topics we focus on. I’ve learned a lot of new words and improved not only my English, but also my ability to connect with people.

A big area of growth for me at YESIC has been practising stepping out of my comfort zone. Before, I always stuck with my group of friends. Now, I have been placed in different groups in English class for conversation practice or group projects. I was nervous about the different groups at first, but since then, I feel more mature and capable of making connections with others, even when I don’t know them. I’ve also recognized the importance and impact of my attitude and actions, so I try to be a role model and example for younger students.

At first, I only took English classes. In the couple of months I have been coming, I have joined a computer class teaching Microsoft Office and basic computer skills. I also joined a new club at YESIC called the Good Citizenship Club, which has just started, but has already helped me learn about myself and my social responsibilities in my community.

Looking back, before YESIC, I didn’t have much confidence. But now, I’ve learned a lot about myself and about my capacities. YESIC isn’t just a school—it’s a place where you can study, make friends, and hang out. I’ve had fun playing ping pong, UNO, Jenga, and the popular phone game Mobile Legends with all of my friends here.

The teachers are great. They don’t force students and make them feel bad. They support us. That’s made a big difference in how I feel about learning here compared to other schools.

Mission Dove Cambodia “YESIC” has helped me grow, not just as a student, but as a person.

Mission Dove Activities

Good Citizenship Program

One of Mission Dove Cambodia's values is Partnership and Inclusivity.  These values are important to Mission Dove because in a country like Cambodia, it is easy for people to be left out or to be excluded from family, community or some benefits that may be available.  Most often it is the poor, sometimes it is the person is part of a minority culture, and sometimes people are being persecuted because of how they perceive themselves in society.  At Dove, we listen, provide a safe community where questions can be asked.  Sometimes we can connect people with opportunities, and other times we can provide perspectives.  Partnership is important to us because Mission Dove Cambodia is a small organization, and we can only do so much on our own.  Partnership expands our opportunities and influence. So, we partner with organizations and churches with similar values. 

The Good Citizenship Program is a new program designed to alert young people to their responsibilities in their community, working together in community, help young people learn about the strength of networking and lastly how to maintain good physical health and mental health.

The first Good Citizenship Program Seminar was held at the Dove office.  We invited a nurse from Mercy Medical Center to share with 30 youths from different areas in Phnom Penh came together and learnt together. Our seminar focused on “Healthy Youth and being Responsible Citizens".  When young people take care of their physical health, they are not just improving their own lives they’re preparing to be dependable friends, future leaders, and active citizens. A healthy person is more likely to help, speak up, and contribute. Good citizenship starts with self-discipline and physical training is one of the first steps.

The second seminar was held in the Kandal province, about 35 miles north of Phnom Penh.  This was done in partnership with an organization called Mana for Life. We conducted the training under the topic “Gender Roles and Social Norms”. This seminar centers on a Cambodian proverb that says, Men are made of gold, and women are made of white cloth.  This proverb is very true in Cambodia. A girl cannot integrate back into society if she has become "tarnished," while a man symbolized by the easily polished gold compared to the white cloth, which is very difficult to clean again. This social awareness seminar encourages youth to reflect and grow by learning from everyone’s perspective. We invited 35 young people in the village to join us, and the training helped them realize that gender roles and social norms aren’t always fair or true, they’re learned, and they can be unlearned. They started to understand that leadership, care, strength, and emotions belong to everyone, not just one gender. When young people are given the chance to reflect, grow, and train together, they begin to see that true strength lies in being fully themselves.

Exposure Trip

As part of our Youth Development Program, Dove Youth Learning Center organized an exposure trip to Kampot Province under the theme “Grow Green, Eat Clean, Save the Earth.” Led by Reaksmey Eb, our Program Coordinator, the trip brought together students, volunteers, and staff to explore the beauty of Cambodia’s countryside and learn about environmental care. During the journey, participants visited a local community to experience rural life and understand the connection between farming, clean food, and healthy living. A special highlight of the trip was visiting the mangrove forest, where the group was guided by a local leader who shared about the vital role mangroves play in protecting the earth. He explained how these unique trees help minimize the effects of climate change by storing carbon. This experience deeply inspired the students, volunteers, and staff to take small but meaningful steps in their daily lives to care for the environment and live more sustainably. For many of our students, it was their first time planting mangrove trees with their own hands, a hands-on experience that connected them directly to nature. It was a powerful reminder that real change begins with awareness and that youth can become leaders in building a greener, healthier future.

Onyx Alumni Gathering

Mission Dove has planned monthly gatherings for our Onyx Alumni, creating a space for learning and sharing life’s journey. In June, we welcomed 22 alumni who joined us to learn and grow through a session on Boundaries, facilitated by Sievhuy Sous, our co-director.

It was a meaningful time to check in with each other, celebrating the good moments and honestly sharing the challenges they’ve faced. Many of them have been walking through these struggles alone, but this community gathering served as a powerful reminder: they are not alone. They belong to a group that genuinely cares and supports them, especially when they feel lost or stuck in life.

The lesson on Boundaries was especially relevant to their current season. As many of them carry heavy responsibilities at work and in their families, it can be difficult to say no or deal with emotional pressure from others. We encouraged them to stand up for themselves, to honor their own thoughts and decisions, and to respect the choices of others, so they can build healthy, balanced relationships in every area of life.

Prayer Points

• Pray for the youth attending YESIC that they all will have a story of change.

• Thank God for the change in Samnob

• Pray for the Good Citizenship Program to continue being effective among the emerging youth in Cambodia.

• Pray for the Onyx Alumni that they will continue experiencing growth in their lives.

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Note: The Mission Dove Cambodia Blog is managed by Andrew Collins, an advisor for Mission Dove Cambodia, who resides in Australia..