COSY HOSTEL

Carol Loh, MMS Missionary in Cambodia.

The COS-Youth Hostel (COSY) was built to cater for the COSI (Community Outreach Services Immanuel Children’s Village) youth from Grades 10 to 12. Grade 9 is the highest level of the Tuan Orr Primary and Secondary Public School for the COSI children. Hence, COSY was purchased in 2010 and constructed according to the specific requirements of a youth hostel in the vicinity of a nearby high school. The maximum capacity of COSY is 40 where the boys’ and girls’ rooms are split up and accessible by separate staircases.

First batch of COSY youths

The COSY youth attend Antioch Methodist Church where they help in leading worship, singing and music, teaching in Sunday School, attending prayer meetings as well as conducting evangelism and outreach in the neighbouring villages especially to children and ladies.

Foochow Methodist Church missions team

From April to September 2021 during the pandemic, the youth were moved to COSI as the wider compound is enclosed and safer. The larger space provided them with a better and healthier environment with fresh air to exercise and, with the help of the local staff and missionaries, to do some farming together with their younger counterparts in the afternoons after their online classes. This was also a time for the 27 COSY youth to grow in their digital technology knowledge and learn about “Decision Making” for their future careers. They also learnt from members of the Bedok Methodist Church WSCS about building long-term relationships and purity in marriage for life partners. Furthermore, they learnt Principles to Manage Money helmed by Toa Payoh Methodist Church and embarked on an 8-week Befriending Programme with the young adults of Queenstown Methodist Church. They held cultural exchanges with their Singapore friends, sang and played online games, and shared on personal, practical and leadership matters, - all these enabling them to broaden their thinking.

Current batch of COSY youths

When school resumed for the Grade 12s in mid-September, they moved back to COSY and did their best to observe safety measures and requirements. However, in October, six of the Grade 11s developed COVID-19. While those infected were isolated at a nearby treatment centre, the hostel was cordoned off by the authorities. Due to the enforced quarantine, the Grade 12s were unable to return to school for their semester examinations that were to take place the following week. It was crucial for them because they needed these results to qualify for their national examinations. Thank God for answering their prayers at the most critical time! This is what Sam Srey Oun, a Grade 12 student last year, has to share:

Those of us who were in Grade 12 were very anxious. It was compulsory for us to go to school to sit for the examinations otherwise we would not be allowed to take the National Examinations. The school principal was unsympathetic and did not allow us to take the exams online. In fact, he told us that we should just repeat our Grade12 the following year. However, the grace and love of God opened the door for us as we prayed. News came that two of the school teachers were tested COVID-19 positive and the school had to be closed as a result. All examinations had to be done online! Through this incident, we saw how God helped us solve problems when we prayed. As a result of this encounter, our faith and trust in God were strengthened.

Sam Srey Oun

Every year, there will be a batch of graduating class students leaving COSY and, at the same time, a batch from COSI will come in to COSY to start their high school education. Ever since COSY started operations, we have seen 12 batches of COSI children graduate from the hostel.

Year 2016 – 2018 (9 graduated)

Year 2019 – 2021 (13 graduated)

Year 2017 – 2019 (10 graduated)

Year 2018 – 2020 (13 graduated)

We celebrated COSY’s 10th Anniversary in 2020. We continue to give thanks and praise to God for His faithful provision and protection over us all these years. The youth have grown in their walk with Him and experienced His bountiful care and love over the three years. Sok Srey San, one of the 14 Grade 12s, who graduated from COSY at the end of 2021, testifies that:

I stayed in COSY for three years when I was promoted to Grade 10 in 2019. I thank God that I passed all my exams at every level. I thank God for all those who took good care of me and for His provision in everything that I need! During the pandemic, I was studying in Grade 12 when I had to take my national examinations by the end of the year. But all schools were closed because of the pandemic so I had to study online. It was really tough for me and I struggled. Sometimes I cried quietly because I could not understand the lessons and I was anxious over the coming exams. I started to search and learn through YouTube. I would always start with a prayer before I study, asking God to give me wisdom in order to understand the subject being taught online. My friends comforted me and said I should not be overly anxious because they felt that online learning was better than on-site learning. How I felt though is that I did not want to have examinations online, or to be given an auto-pass like the year before. I prayed to God as the examinations drew nearer. Although I was still anxious, I learnt to trust God and accept His will whether I would pass or fail. Thank God, I passed and could enrol in the University for further studies! I am now in my first year studying Banking and Finance.

Sok Srey San

We thank God for all the sponsors who have given towards their monthly support and for Foochow Methodist Church for her partnership over all these years since we started.

Come encourage and empower the youth at COSY through on-site visits, online training on life skills, marketplace English, career guidance, and different aspects of discipleship. We are looking forward to your partnership with us!