Mongolia: Volunteer Care/Orphanage work in Asia

Mongolia: Volunteer Care-Work with Children

The children in Mongolia's orphanages might therefore be seen as the lucky ones but these institutions are often desperately overstretched and cannot offer sometimes even the most basic resources to the children in their care. Staff all too often simply don't have the time to provide the individual love and attention that all children require. This is where you can help when you volunteer on a Mongolian Care project.

Care volunteers in Mongolia work to relieve the workload of the local staff, whilst also adding to the children's quality of life in many different ways. You do not require any qualifications to volunteer and you do not need to have had previous experience. If you have energy, enthusiasm and compassion then it does not matter whether you are 17 or 76; gap year students, career breakers or retired volunteers are all welcome.

Voluntary Community Development and Orphanage work with Projects Abroad

There are around twenty orphanages in Ulaanbaatar, where our placements are based. You can either work in a large orphanage, which houses up to 120 children, or you can be involved with a smaller care centre which may house only 15 children at a time.

Many of these placements are located in very poor areas, usually in the middle of tented 'Ger districts'. A lot of the work involves playing with the children who range in age from babies to teenage street-children. You will be working alongside committed local staff to provide practical help and friendship to the many children who are in need of support.

Once such placement is with the State Clinical Orphanage for Infants in the Bayangol District. This is home to around a hundred children between the ages of 0 and 3. There are two staff teams here who alternate between an early and a late shift, although volunteers will often work the early shift. The children here can be incredibly demanding, and some of them require extra attention as they have physical or mental disabilities. However the difference our volunteers make is truly inspiring and greatly appreciated by the Mongolian staff who are keen to learn English from you and teach you some Mongolian at the same time!

Volunteering abroad on a Care Project in Mongolia

The actual work depends a lot on the ages of the children that you are working with. While working with younger children you'll play games but you might also be asked to ensure that they are washed and dressed for the day and you'll then help at their meal and bed times.

The older children often require help with homework, personal and social education or support, and it would also be helpful if you can provide them with informal English tuition, as well as some form of vocational teaching; to help them make a living once they have to leave the orphanage.

Volunteer work in Mongolia is a chance to make a really positive difference to children's lives. You are unlikely to find it easy but, if you are prepared to accept a challenge, you will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience and many new friends, who have taken you to their hearts.