Supporting Projects in Mongolia

March 1, 2009

Country: Mongolia

In Mongolia, Mercy Corps supports rural communities and herding families through economic, educational and agricultural programmes. Over the past six years Mercy Corps has established a strong reputation across the vast Gobi region, and continues to work to ensure a robust economy that preserves ancient traditions.

Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

In Mongolia, life can be extremely tough for rural nomadic people. With the fast pace of today's modern world entire communities are lacking vital skills and income to support their families. Mercy Corps is helping to change this by supporting rural communities and herding families through a range of projects that help them live an independent and sustainable life.

Mongol Rally 2008 and 2009

After last year's fantastic Rally Mercy Corps is on target to raise £100,000 to support our projects in Mongolia. With your support for the 2009 Mongol Rally our work will continue to help reach out to rural communities and help them lead improved lives.

The projects funded by the Mongol Rally are wide ranging, from setting up schools and building children's playgrounds to establishing youth centres and helping women find employment opportunities.

Here are a couple of examples:

Khentii: School Improvement Project

This project is working with a local school to significantly improve its facilities. So far the project has created a parents' committee to work with the students to highlight the priorities for the school. Together with Mercy Corps they have renovated the library and the sports ground and updated the central heating system- which was desperately needed during Mongolia's cruel winters.

Arkhangai: Unemployment Reduction

In the district of Arkhangai unemployment is rife with a huge number of people unable to support their families. Mercy Corps has started to address this by providing job training sessions for members of the community. There are now 40 previously unemployed people who are able to generate their own income and for the first time they are earning enough money to live an independent life and provide for their families.