Mongolia
Children's Home
AMURTEL started the Lotus Center in Ulaanbaatar in 1994 as a response to
the growing street children crisis. It is a pioneer project for child
care in Mongolia, being the first to move away from the Soviet
institutional style, and the first to locate in ordinary suburban
surroundings.
The Lotus Center is a series of family style homes for 130 children and
infants in Yarmag district. The children live in small groups that
provide an atmosphere as close as possible to normal family life. They
share the same responsibilities they would in a normal family, such as
helping with the daily chores. As a result the children have a mutual
support structure that they have never experienced before.
Children of the Lotus Child center
In 1998 the new infant and mothering center was completed. This has greatly improved the lives of the infants currently living there. A greenhouse provides vegetables during the long winter and running water saves endless hard work carrying water and has greatly improved the hygiene in the center.
AMURTEL often take in infants that the government orphanage does not accept. One recent arrival was born with syphilis and abandoned by the mother; another was abandoned in the street and weighed a mere 1.4 kilograms. Even if the babies have little chance of survival, we give them a home and lots of affection rather than leave them unwanted and uncared for in the hospital.
Kindergarten
AMURTEL also runs a kindergarten school. The school combines children
from the home with children from poor neighboring families.
Unfortunately due to the economic situation in Mongolia people have to
pay to attend government schools. We offer an education to those who are
too poor to attend government schools, even if they are over
kindergarten age.
The children dress up for a play.
We also provide accommodation for women and their children who are escaping violent domestic situations. They are referred to us by the Center Against Violence and the Mongolian Women’s Lawyers Association.
The Center has also helps many ultra poor families with income projects
and food assistance, so that poverty does not tear their family unit
apart.
Donate for this project
|