In developing countries like Cambodia, thousands of youth stream to the capitol in hopes of finding work and education.During the 11 years that New Life Fellowship has existed in Cambodia we have found this to be true.Our Office Skills Training School has been designed for many of these young people to gain marketable job skills for free or a minimum cost.We have seen hundreds of young people come to our school with no skills whatsoever, and as they apply themselves to study develop job skills, find work and start a family…not to mention become a Christian and be added to a local church.
The Next Step Houses are acritical link for many of these young people.A typical scenario would be a young man or woman coming to Phnom Penh to seek their fortune; they live with a relative who is also poor.They must earn their room and board by serving the family.Often these young people, especially the young women, become virtual slaves of the family, doing whatever ever they want her to do whenever.Rather than having time to study or work, the young woman is trapped seven days per week, receiving no spending money nor having any free time. Another scenario will be a young man coming to the city and havingno one to live with.He is forced to sleep in any small space at a local Buddhist Temple.He comes with little orno cash and often goes without eating meals.From time to time these young people might receive a bag of rice or a small amount of money from their poor family in the provincial village, but most of the time they are living from day to day. Still another scenario will be an orphan who turns 18 or graduates from high school and suddenly there is no place for him or her to stay.Most orphanages do not provide life or job skills, so after many years living with some form of security in life, he or she is cast out with no place to go and no skills to earn an income. New Life Fellowship has experienced all of these scenarios and more!
Next Step Houses are a place for this young man or woman to have a secure place to lay their head and call “home.”The Next Step House is an extension of New Life Fellowship Phnom Penh and their branch churches.We always have a core group of strong Christians staying at the house providing a stable Christian environment.These too, area young men who have no place to stay.The members of the house have morning and evening Bible studies, serve in the local church and have an opportunity to study English, typing and office skills at New Life Center. We also put computers in each house for them to practice on.Some houses are quite far from New Life Center so we provide a fuller schedule of classes at their site.For those houses that are far away from New Life Center we also hold a Saturday night youth outreach that is an opportunity for the young men and women to serve and share their faith to other youth in their area.
The commitment New Life makes to the young men and women living in the houses is that we will provide them a simple and secure place to stay, several bags of rice per month, an opportunity to make friends and grow in their responsibilities and an opportunity to study English, computer, typing and office skills for free.
Nest Step Houses are open to believer and unbeliever alike, but the unbeliever must subscribe to the house policies, rules and Christian environment. Our experience is that in a matter of time most new residents are drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ and become strong disciples. In fact, the Next Step Houses are an excellent environment to make disciples and train leaders for the future, as well as help the young people obtain marketable job skills. Each house has between 20-25 residents.
At the time of this writing, New Life Fellowship has 5 Next Step Houses in the Phnom Penh area:
Women’s House in Toul Svey Prey 2, Phnom Penh
Men’s House in Toul Svey Prey 1, Phnom Penh
Men’s House in Toul Kork, Phnom Penh
Men’s House in New Phnom Penh Village
Men’s House in Stung Mean Chey Village
TYPICAL BUDGET
Rent: USD$250 Utilities: USD$50 Rice: USD$100 Matts or Cushions to sleep on: $200 to outfit one house Bedding: USD$100 to outfit a house Desks: USD$50 for one desk Computers: USD$1,500 for 3 computers Monthly Activities: USD$50 per month
