Environmental degradation is a significant concern in Mongolia. Problems such as loss of bio-diversity, deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental pollution threaten human survival. Environmental conservation projects address these issues directly through community education and collaboration and hands-on conservation work.
This program involves working on various environment and conservation projects in Mongolia. You can work with local agricultural and environment experts on projects, which interest you.

These might include tree reforestation, planting of indigenous & imported plants and flowers, and land management. With agricultural projects, the work may include some work on recording basic data on crop production, land use, and reforestation activity.

If you're looking to work on endangered species projects, we can place you with one of our many partner organizations. Mongolia has established 3 national parks and three reserves for the protection of endangered species much valuable work has been done already, but the struggle to preserve the existing biodiversity means that dedicated volunteers like you are still needed.
Volunteers may work with local villagers or other volunteers in activities such as sowing, mulching, watering, weeding, and farming.

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: Two days language and culture orientation included.
To better prepare volunteers and to make their experience more enjoyable, each volunteer placement of one month or longer begins with a two-day Mongolia language and culture orientation stage. Day one includes intensive language and cultural training in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Day two provides volunteers with hands-on cultural learning through a home stay in a rural ethnic minority community and participation in various cultural activities. This is a fun and effective way for volunteers to adjust to a new environment before volunteering begins.

Housing: Housing varies based on the placement location. During the volunteering stage of the placement, housing typically consists of a home stay with a local host family. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to learn experientially about Mongolia culture and family life. Volunteers can expect pleasant yet modest accommodations. (some times volunteers will live in hostel or dormitory)

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

Activities: Many unique activities are included in volunteer placements of one-month or longer: ger district visit and hiking, cultural dance, and a visit to Gandan Monastery, Natural History Museum or art gallery.

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.

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 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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