Why Care & Community in Mongolia?

Sandwiched between the huge expanses of Russia and China, Mongolia offers real adventure. The modern Mongolian is a descendant of Genghis Khan, an offspring of the Communist era and is living in an ancient nation-state that once ruled the whole of Asia. Identifying more with Europeans than Asians, the Mongolian people are proud and very welcoming.

Most of our placements are based in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, which has the feel of a Soviet city with tower blocks surrounding the focal point of Sukhbaatar Square. Yet on the edge of the city, families live in traditional "Gers."

Volunteering in Mongolia

Volunteers are placed in one of twenty orphanages in Ulaanbaatar. Here they work alongside dedicated staff to provide practical help as well as the friendship and support the children need - and which the local staff don't have time to give. The children range from young babies to school age, and there can be as many as two hundred in one orphanage, or as few as fifteen. Previous volunteers have arranged trips outside the city for the children, and these experiences are unforgettable for both the children and the volunteer.

Why Volunteer in a Care & Community Placement?

Voluntary care work is extremely beneficial to all those involved, whether it is in a developed or a developing country. Throughout the world, there are vast numbers of children who are orphaned or neglected, and in need of love, care and affection. These are things which you do not need to be trained or qualified to give. The only qualities that the volunteer needs to possess are a care for fellow human beings and a desire to improve the lives of those with domestic or physical circumstances less fortunate than their own.

People are often unaware of the impact they can have on another person's life, with even the smallest gesture. Spending as little as one month working in an orphanage, a volunteer can have a hugely significant and positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children.

While the input of the volunteer is beneficial to the placement, in turn the placement proves beneficial to the volunteer. Volunteers are in a privileged position to be able to work in an environment culturally different from their own, where they can have unique experiences and develop a greater understanding of how other groups of people think and live. They go home with more self-confidence and a greater knowledge of the world.