Video: World Team University Dorm in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Transcript

World Team Missionary Tom Vosters: We’re here in Cambodia because the Lord has brought us here. There’s really no other reason.

And the reason that we’re continuing to stay here is that there’s a university dorm that He’s called us to, and we have the opportunity to minister and to disciple university dorm students here in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

[Native language interview with a dorm student]

World Team Missionary Alicia Vosters: The purpose of the World Team dorm is to equip and invest in these students so they can be future leaders of the Cambodian church.

[Native language interview with a dorm student]

One of the reasons that we wanted to start a university dorm was because in Cambodia’s past, there’s been such war and turmoil with the Khmer Rouge and civil war that over 50 percent of the population is under the age of 25.

But with the poverty, only about 10 percent of those students have the ability to go to university. And when they do, they’re leaving the support network that they know in their homes and in their villages in the rural area—and coming to a busy city that is just sprawling and very overwhelming.

We wanted to be able to walk alongside them, encourage them in those life choices—but do it in a way that is Christ-centered and shares the biblical truths of who God is in their lives.

[Native language interview with dorm students]

World Team Missionary Tom Vosters: There is so much potential within the students. Pretty much all of our students are coming from the province, and they wouldn’t have the opportunity to come and learn in university if the dorm wasn’t here.

So they’re seeking that opportunity to have some place that’s safe to stay and that is going to directly impact their families—removing them from the poverty cycle. It gives them great, wonderful opportunities: coming to university, learning specific skills—English, computer—and also what their studies are in university.

[Native language interview with a dorm student]

World Team Missionary Alicia Vosters: Our hearts were with discipleship, and we recognize that with discipleship that it’s easier to do that one-on-one. And so we wanted to keep the dorm small—to about 10 male and 10 female students—because that intentional one-on-one time with them is what’s really going to help them grow in their relationship with Christ.

Our future desires are really to have a network of dorms located in other parts of the city and in different parts of the country where there are other universities—so that we can continue with that goal of intentional discipleship, but grow and meet the needs for more students in different places.