Strengthening Community Care

July was a month of strong partnerships, impactful training, and personal growth both within our wider community and here at Mission Dove. From equipping community leaders with mental health tools to investing in the growth of our staff and volunteers, we saw again how care and compassion create ripple effects that last far beyond a single workshop.

 

Building Healthier Leaders with Mercy Medical Centre

Mission Dove Cambodia was excited to collaborate with Mercy Medical Centre to enhance the mental and physical care available to our students and the wider Dove community.

Together, we launched a training program on managing stress and anxiety, designed specifically for community leaders. Twenty-five participants joined us, including leaders from the Free Methodist Church, local NGO staff, and several Onyx alumni. The session equipped them with practical tools to understand and cope with stress—skills they can take back to their communities and personal lives. The doctor leading the training shared in-depth, clear insights on the signs of stress and anxiety, along with strategies for supporting both oneself and others when experiencing these symptoms.

This marks a significant step toward building healthier, more resilient communities. We believe that supporting leaders in their mental health creates a ripple effect, helping countless others along the way.

 

Together we grow in our team

 

At Mission Dove, we care not only for leaders in churches and communities but also for the well-being and growth of our own staff and volunteers. We want them to become more confident, stable, and balanced in both work and life.

Recently, we worked with Raju Bhagwat, one of our board members and a professional trainer, to provide career counseling for our team. This training helped staff reflect on how their work and life align with their personal core values and vision.

Why is this important? At DOVE, we value healthy leadership in every aspect of life. We want our team to think deeply and critically about their own mission—and, while serving at Dove, to put this into practice as they work with youth and other leaders.

Raju also shared lessons from Jesus’ way of prioritizing responsibilities and teaching through quotes, parables, and proverbs—helping our staff reflect more critically on their work and calling.

 

Wise Finance – Practical Skills for Life

Another highlight this month was our NGO partnership with Wise Finance. Our friends Kevin Lim and Carol Lim brought their team to facilitate a fun and interactive session on personal finance management.

This training sparked great conversations about money and how to manage income wisely. It also strengthens the way we steward the funds entrusted to Dove by our donors, ensuring they are used responsibly and effectively for our mission.

We plan to share these lessons with our alumni students, knowing many people struggle to balance spending and saving. By equipping them with practical tools, we hope to empower both our team and the young leaders we mentor to build healthy financial habits for life.

Partnering with Crossroad Church

Through our friendship with Crossroad Church, we were able to reconnect with Dove alumni now serving as leaders in their community. We designed and delivered a lesson on “Being a Good Listener”, inspired by Jesus as our model of living. Somaly from Peace Bridge facilitated the training for 30 youth from Crossroad Dorm. Many participants said it was their first time learning about deep, compassionate listening.

Two of our Emerald Women alumni, Phalynn and Dany, now leaders at Crossroad Church, shared their excitement to welcome Dove into their ministry and their hope to bring more trainings like this in the future. They plan to use these tools to support their small group members and dorm students.

 

Testimony - Sorit’s Story

“Hi, I’m Sorit, a youth at Crossroad Church Cambodia and a medical student. Before joining the Listening Skills training, I didn’t think deeply about what real listening meant. I knew it was important, but I hadn’t really practiced it. I joined the training hoping to learn how to listen without judging, communicate more clearly, and respond better in different situations.”

“What I liked most was that it wasn’t just theory—we got to practice. The trainer even showed us simple but powerful things, like how to sit and talk with someone. One highlight for me was brainstorming small questions to ask others. I realized those simple questions can be deeply powerful.”

“After the training, I began seeing conversations differently—especially with people going through hard times. Listening isn’t just about hearing words; it’s about being present and caring. I also learned how to adjust my listening depending on the person and situation, and how to ask respectful, kind questions.”

“One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to support people in crisis—how to step into their space gently and safely. I realized I don’t have to fix everything. Just being there and listening well can mean a lot.”

What changed for me:

·       I’m more understanding and less quick to judge.

·       I speak and listen with more purpose.

·       I’m more confident in resolving conflict peacefully.

·       I’m not afraid to support others, and people can trust me to listen.

“This training didn’t just grow my leadership skills—it helped me become more emotionally present. I feel ready to walk alongside others in their struggles and listen with care and compassion.”

 

Looking Ahead

In July, we were reminded that strong communities are built on trust, compassion, and the willingness to truly listen. We are deeply grateful for the partnerships, leaders, and youth who make this work possible and we look forward to seeing these seeds grow in the months to come.

Prayer Request:

1.    Pray for retreat of onyx alumni “Nature your soul”

2.    Funding stable for Mission Dove to serve in the community.

3.    Cambodia and Thailand border conflict and War