When we first went to Cambodia our goal was to eventually have self-supporting local churches; however, the country had just come out of 25 years of war (in fact they were still in war when we arrived) and had been devasted. The education and skill level were pitifully low. As people started coming to the Lord in Phnom Penh they did not have marketable job skills. They had come out of an era where education had been abolished by Pol Pot, the Cambodian dictator. Any education was minimal under the Vietnam-ruled regime from 1979-1989. None of the new Christians had any marketable job skills.
We felt at that time the best route to take in training would be in: 1) English, 2) Computer, 3) Office skills, Why? Because Cambodia was moving from a farming society into a commercial society...at least in the capitol city. We began teaching English classes, bought three second-hand computers, wrote a ten-lesson Office Skills Training Course and started training the students.
Now New Life Foundation Office Skills Training School has more than 1,000 young students (mostly poor young people who cannot afford to study at a university) coming to study English from 6 AM until 8 PM; office skills (two levels), typing, computer and internet, basic management and other office-related subjects.
New Life Foundation has an excellent reputation in Cambodia for producing highly qualified workers and we are in demand all over the country. Also, New Life Fellowship in Phnom Penh fully supports the Cambodian church staff and activities through offerings from the Cambodian people...This is happening because of young people who became Christians were trained, were able to find jobs, and now faithfully tithe back to the church.
Our facilities is called New Life Center and houses the offices of the church, the NGO, classes and a relaxing area for the students to hang out, watch videos, read books and listen to music.
We are bursting at the seams in our current building and have completely run out of room. We are praying that the Lord will allow us to build a new facilitiy soon.
New Life Center (New Life Foundation Cambodia) #50 B Street 318 Sangkat Toul Svey Prey 2 Khan Chamkor Mon Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia Tel: 855-23-721-193
