Foster Growth and Healing for 200 Cambodian Youth

In our Youth learning Centre, we believe in creating safe communities where young people can grow emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Through programs like YESIC English School, Reading Club, and Good Citizenship Club, students not only improve their skills but also discover their identity, confidence, and purpose.

One of these students is Dalin*, a young girl from the Punong indigenous community whose journey reflects courage, transformation, and hope.

My name is Dalin, and I’m a 17-year-old girl from the Punong ethnic group. I’m currently studying in Grade 12, and my family has five members two siblings, my parent and me.

In 2018, I left my hometown to continue my studies in Phnom Penh when I was in Grade 6. I stayed in a dormitory with other students from different provinces. At first, I was excited because I wanted to study, explore, and try new things. But soon, I faced challenges like homesickness and sickness, which made me miss my family deeply. Thankfully, the leaders and students at the dormitory took care of me and helped me adjust to city life.

In 2020, our dormitory leader encouraged me and other students to study English at YESIC (Mission Dove). That was when I first got to know the school. At the beginning, I didn’t know any English, so I started from the basic level. Slowly, I made new friends and began to enjoy learning.

I used to feel shy and uncomfortable meeting new people or trusting others. But through YESIC, I became more confident and humbler. I learned to communicate better, trust myself, and recognize my strengths. Talking with foreign volunteers also helped me improve my English and understand people from different cultures.

At first, I was afraid to talk to foreigners. I thought I wasn’t capable, so I tried to avoid them. But with encouragement from my teachers, I gained the courage to speak and found joy in connecting with others. When COVID-19 began, schools closed, and I couldn’t study. That was a very difficult time I was scared and anxious. But after the pandemic ended, I returned to school and joined the Reading Club in 2022. That club became a safe and happy space for me. It helped me make new friends, build emotional support, and learn valuable lessons from stories. Together, we reflected on everyday life and encouraged each other to grow.

In early 2025, I joined a new class at YESIC called the Good Citizenship Club. I was immediately interested because I wanted to continue learning and developing myself. Through this class, I’ve learned a lot about myself, society, and teamwork. One of my biggest challenges was leading a small group for the first time. It wasn’t easy to help everyone work together, especially when they didn’t know each other. I had to practice patience and find ways to encourage others to speak up and share their thoughts. Slowly, I saw them open their hearts and connect deeply, which made me very happy.

Among all the lessons, my favourite is Personal Core Values. It helped me realize that everyone has their own unique values that guide them. I discovered that my core values are honesty, joyfulness, and courage and I try to live by them every day.

Beyond the lessons, I’ve received constant encouragement from my facilitators, teachers, and friends. We share knowledge, motivate one another, and celebrate each other’s growth. My classmates and teachers often tell me that I’ve changed that I’m now braver, more confident, and inspire others to take action. I feel proud of how much I’ve grown. I want to continue developing myself and use what I’ve learned to help others.

Finally, I want to say thank you to Mission Dove Cambodia and all the supporters in Cambodia and abroad. Thank you for showing me love, generosity, and for creating a safe community where I can grow. Even though I am a minority, I’ve learned that I am not different—I belong.

Mission Dove Youth Learning Center

Mission Dove have created space to welcome youths in every area in Phnom Penh City and specially in Beoung TumPun community come to learning and hangout. We disciple young leaders to become wounded healers, who are emotionally and spiritually mature. For this center we believed that youth are given safe, supportive environments, they not only thrive emotionally but also unlock their full potential to grow through language learning and skill development, becoming more confident, expressive, and prepared for the future. Every day in the centers we have more than 80 youths come to hangout and study. Mission Dove have been providing them with English, Computer class, music class, chess club and leadership club. 

My Story of Change – Somnob

My name is Somnob. I live with my mom, dad, and two younger brothers. I lived in Stung Meanchey community and it quiet far from Mission Dove, I guessed it may take 15-to-20-minute ride motor from my house to here but it was 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  “YESIC”.

I came to YESIC because I had friends who attended, and I heard it was a good place to study for a good price. 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 general 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 practicing 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, however, I have joined a computer class teaching Microsoft Office and basic computer skills. I also joined a new club at YESIC/Dove called the Good Citizenship Club, which has just started, but has already helped me learn about responsibility and myself.

Looking back, before YESIC, I didn’t have much confidence. But now, I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. 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 too.

The teachers are great. They don’t force students or 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.