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.