YOUTH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Within Mongolia

The MYDC has an estimated 40 young volunteers who are students at local universities, colleges and high schools. They usually work part time in the centre or assist in different programmes run by the organisation.

The involvement of young people in the MYDC’s activities will ensure that the activities stay youth focused and relevant to today’s young people. It is mutually beneficial for the young volunteers, providing them with important experience, training and contacts that will assist them in securing future careers. 

The initial priorities in establishing this programme are to build a volunteer network with the capacity to create a solid infrastructure within communities or particular groups that is able to assist in long term assistance in schools, community centres and provide vocational training. Before this is possible, research is necessary to create a comprehensive guide to volunteer work in Mongolia. The MYDC intends to compile information for such work, as there has never been a scheme with participation on this type of basis in Mongolia. Therefore it is important that all those involved in the scheme understand how volunteer work is managed, and how to put these ideas into practice. Therefore a booklet will be compiled to act as both a manual and handbook, for groups interested in establishing volunteer networks, and will suggest means of training and implementation of these schemes.

 World wide volunteer activities

 1996 – Community Development Project (Scotland)           

The Edinburgh Area Scouts came to work in Mongolia for five weeks to assist the Mongolian Scout organization with a variety of community based projects. The first project was to create an obstacle course at the International Children’s Camp at Nairamdal. The second project was to assist in the upgrade in two rooms at the Khan Uul District Children’s Centre which were going to be used by the Scout Association to teach young people in the local community about children’s rights. The third project was to renovate an outhouse at the Temuulel Centre for Street Children, to change two rooms into workrooms, for carpentry, metalworking and sewing.   

1999 – Borders Exploration (Scotland)

The Borders Exploration Group aged between 15-19 came to work in Mongolia as part of a $9000.00 E.U. Progress Group scheme, to help with renovation work at the Tehuulel Centre for Street Children, and at the MYDC centre.

            The Choice Experience (U.K.) / Involvement Volunteers (Australia)

The Choice Experience and Involvement Volunteers groups sent people to work at the Janazaga Summer Camp 30km from Ulaan Baatar, to teach 400 children over four ten day sessions English and participate in the other activities organized at the camp.    

The OJCIYO sent 75 people to Mongolia in May 2000 to assist a $15,000       programme for the renovation of four centres for street children around                 Mongolia, and help provide the furnishings for the training rooms in the centres, and clothes for the 200 street children.

The Choice Experience and Involvement Volunteer group sent 11 individuals to Mongolia to teach English and participate in camp activities at the International Children’s Camp at Nairamdal, and help the MYDC develop their website, and programme of events for 2001. 

MONGOLIAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE 

www.owc.org.mn/mydc  Email sssmydc@magicnet.mn