Supporting an Orphanage
Destination: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The journey to Mongolia will find you meeting children in extreme circumstances, where the smallest help can make a big difference.
In the best of circumstances, kids in
Mongolia face plenty of challenges from environmental, cultural, and economic pressures. The precarious balance of family life can be toppled far too easily with a small shift of circumstances. High levels of unemployment, and poor wages for those who can find work, mean many live below the poverty line, making for a disproportionate number of abandoned Mongolian children.
In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, it's a rare block that isn't populated by homeless children (many of whom in the bitter winter weather move underground into sewers and heating vents). Children who find placement in orphanages are spared the street life, but these institutions are filled to bursting and understaffed, so that meeting the most basic needs of survival for their charges is often an accomplishment. Volunteers from around the world endeavor to pour a little love and individual attention into a minimalist system of sustenance.
You'll be posted in a children's home or orphanage to help relieve the pressure on staff and contribute time and effort to the kids who live there. Twenty orphanages and care centers are served by this far reaching project, from infant programs to large capacity facilities that help all ages (with up to 120 residents). Your schedule and activities will depend upon the age range of the children you'll serve. If in the infant program, you'll spend most of your time on direct care of babies up to age 3, some of whom need an unusual amount of care because they are facing disabilities as well as abandonment. Older kids will need help with homework, lessons in English (care center staff will be eager to practice their English skills as well), practical help with everything from hygiene and getting dressed to job hunting, and plenty of love. Providing one-on-one attention, even if it's just a lullaby or story, is the greatest gift you can give.
A host family will introduce you to the cultural traditions that make Mongolia such a fascinating destination. Meals are provided and are a mix of local cuisine and several staples you'll recognize. Free time in Ulaanbaatar can be as vivacious or as relaxed as you'd like, with options across the spectrum from upscale dining to simple walks through residential neighborhoods or quality time with your fellow volunteers or host family.
Your Next Step: Projects Abroad (tel.
888/839-3535;
www.projects-abroad.org). A 2-week trip, $1,795, includes lodging with a host family, meals, project training and backup, and full insurance coverage.
Don't Miss: For a very specific and rare cultural experience, make your way to the Chandman district of Hovd Aimag Province to hear a
khuumii performance. Khuumii is "diaphonic singing," where performers are able to make two distinct sounds come out at once, usually a low, rumbling throat singing with a higher tonal melody. It is an art that takes years to learn and is a tradition revered but rarely practiced by newcomers, as the skills are so difficult to learn.
Official Tourism Website: www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn
