NOTICE: Please contact New Choice for information regarding the availability of this program.

Volunteering on Work Camps comes in two forms – working with everyday children and working with children with special needs (for example, those who are orphaned, homeless or who come from the poorest or least privileged of backgrounds). To help volunteers understand what they are letting themselves in for we have put together a short summary of the most appropriate information.

Work Camps are specially designed to be thorough in developing skills for everyday and special needs children. Through teaching, cooking, renovation and conversation programs, it is the aim of the programs to leave children feeling more confident, skilled, advantaged and better placed to achieve in life. The programs are structured to be both learning and fun environments. Work Camps, though highly challenging, are hugely rewarding for both the children and the volunteers. Rarely do any, least of all special needs, children have the chance to meet, spend time with and learn from non-Mongolians.

The volunteers will help children in the following ways:

By promoting the preventive methods for the causes of child disabilities to developing skills for a healthy life;
By providing educational and training opportunities, as well as rehabilitation services;
By providing life skills; and
By assisting in cooking.

Children, but most especially those with special needs, are often secluded and troubled because they are teased, bullied and neglected. A key aim of this program is to drive children, who are mostly unmotivated, and stress the importance of education to them. Education comes in many forms and as part of our Work Camps we include English lessons, teaching, painting, singing, as well as other lessons. More generally, volunteers will be expected to assist staff maintain proper discipline, organize games, and participate and have input as requested by the camp staff. As a volunteer, you will provide a positive introduction into a child’s need for education in hopes that this will lead to a life long interest in learning. The volunteers are able to work in sub-urban camps of Ulaanbaatar.

For everyday children, volunteer work will include basic English teaching to 5-16 year olds in an environment different from their school and home.

Volunteers will help to Mongolian teachers to organize some activities like as sports; concert performances; arts and creations; environmental conservation.

Eligibility: All applicants should have: a desire to help the people of Mongolia, flexibility, self-motivation, openness to a new culture and a willingness to learn.

Pre-Departure Information: Before participants embark on their trip abroad, they will be provided a pre-departure packet that includes important details about their experience abroad. In addition, students may contact New Choice any time prior to departure with questions.

Orientation: Orientation included.

Housing: For the volunteer time that you are volunteering in Mongolia, volunteer will live in a wooden house or cabin with other volunteers as well as Mongolian teachers.

Food: Food is provided as part of all volunteer placements. Traditional Mongolian food is served to volunteers three times a day.

Activities:

Village Visit and Hiking
A two-day trip (hiking) or village visit program will be organized during the home stay program. The hiking program will give participants opportunities to see green forests, magnificent landscapes and different aspects of rural life in Mongolia. Also, volunteers can practice their language skills while they converse with native people.

Gandan Monastery
the only surviving fully operation al Buddhist Monastery to have lasted through the 1930's Communist purges. The Great Temple should be open after much renovation, and the smaller temples are continuously open. Located in a gritty suburb of Ulaanbaatar though.

Natural History Museum
A really badly displayed collection of stuffed birds and animals in broken and unlit glass cases but worth visiting to see the Dinosaur gallery containing remains of finds from the Gobi desert. Like the Bogd-Khan residence, frustratingly nothing is labeled - not even in Mongolian!

Manazashir Monastery
Countryside’s Buddhist Monastery to have lasted through the 1920's. Located in an outside of Ulaanbaatar, Tuv province.
Now a museum, formally an important Monastery, it now houses many of the treasures which were hidden by faithful believers during the 1930's destruction of the Monasteries.

Terelj National Park
We will organize a visit to the Terelj National Park. The Terelj National Park is an hour drive east from Ulaanbaatar. During this program period, participants will enjoy activities like horse riding and travelling through hi rock.

Considerations: Volunteering isn't for everyone. Volunteering in Mongolia requires flexibility and patience. Individuals should be self-starters, who genuinely respect the Mongolian people and their culture. Volunteers go to Mongolia to share their time and energy with the people, to experience the Mongolia culture first hand, and to grow as citizens of the planet.

Before you apply, please consider the following:

• Can you camp?
• Can you live without modern plumbing, hot water and electricity?
• Are you aware that most volunteers experience illness at some point during their stay?
• Are you open enough to accept and respect a culture no matter how different it is from your first culture?
• Are you comfortable with yourself? At times you may feel isolated, particularly when you arrive in a village knowing no one.
• Are you hungry to learn? You'll learn a new language, a new culture, a new way of life.
• Can you handle culture shock? The moment you step off the plane you will be in a world where very little is familiar.
• Are you flexible? Mongolia in particular, are not as obsessed with time as the US or Europe. Often, schedules are ignored or appointments begin later than arranged. You may also encounter corruption in government officials and local administrators.

If you decide to volunteer in Mongolia, you are opening the door to the possibility for a personally enriching and life-changing experience.

Cost and Dates:

Included:
• Pre-departure Welcome Package to prepare you for your placement
• New Choice support for any of your pre-trip questions
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Mongolian travel and coordination
• Visa invitation letter
• Mongolian local food and accommodations
• Support from New Choice representatives
• Two day of Mongolian language and culture training
• City tour
• Cultural activities such as ger district visits, community stay, and traditional dance
• Visit to Terelj National Park and an horse riding
• Volunteer placement
• 24X7 Emergency phone support
• Post-placement packet including important re-entry information.

Not Included:
• Round-trip airfare to Mongolia
• Visa expenses, visa registration fee and airport taxes
• Personal expenses
• Extra food (fruit or candy)

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