International Youth Summer Camps
The Mongolian Youth Development Centre is proud to be
involved in a series of internationally focused camps in recent years. The camps
were introduced to promote the formation of personal bonds between Mongolian and
international youth. As Mongolia’s interaction
with European and Asian markets expands, so too does its contribution to the
global community. Tentative bonds established in this transitory period will be
consolidated in future generations. The International Summer Camps provide an
environment to share and celebrate Mongolian and other cultures, whilst
fostering understanding and the creation of lasting friendships.
The camps are based at the
International Children’s Centre ‘Nairamdal’. ICC Nairamdal was established
in 1978, in conjunction with a number of countries, to represent a global
village. Since that time it has remained Mongolia’s most popular youth resort,
receiving over 10 000 young people annually, from a variety of nationalities and
backgrounds. The camp lies in a beautiful setting 30km
from the capital, Ulaan Baatar, and is surrounded by lush forest and
rolling hills.
The camps have each focused on a
different aspect of Mongolian culture, providing unique experiences. A feature
of all of the camps is the opportunity to visit a traditional ger camp, where
the nomadic lifestyle intrinsic to the heritage of Mongolia exists as it has for
centuries. The culture is further experienced through sharing traditional meals,
dance and music, and of course riding the stocky Mongolian horse.
The first of the International
Summer Camps, ‘Silk Road Legends’, was held in 1999, and involved a total of
one hundred and seventy young people, with seventy of those coming from such
varied countries as Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and Portugal.
This camp incorporated a five day excursion to Kharakhorin, the origin of
the famous trade route, the Silk Road.
The 2000 camp, entitled ‘Youth
Beyond 2000’, involved a similar number of participants, and included young
people from Korea, Germany and Mongolia. The focus of the camp was to develop
positive relations between international and local participants, looking to a
future of friendship and co-operation. A home stay in Mongolia was organised for
all international guests as part of the camp.
‘By the Nomad’s Route’, the
2001 Summer camp, is an exciting opportunity for overseas guests to enjoy more
of Mongolia, with a six-day countryside tour incorporated in the programme.
There are four tours, each to a different part of Mongolia, available to
participants. This camp’s aim is to share some of the wonders of our
magnificent country with our guests, whilst encouraging the celebration of the
diversity of cultures represented in the camp’s participants.
We are looking to increase international and local involvement in the International Summer Camps, through working with similar organisations in other countries. These organisations will join with us to facilitate the formation of open and worthwhile international bonds, and to develop greater understanding and knowledge in our youth.
MONGOLIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE