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.