activities 2017
Animals at Lotus Campus
February 2017
In the Lotus campus in Gaachurt live beside the kids also some animals. There are 5 horses, 2 dogs and 10 cats. This has several reasons. On one hand, the aspect of taking over responsibility to feed and take care of the animals. But the children also learn a lot by dealing with animals. Characteristics such as consistency, assertiveness, respect, responsibility or competence in nonverbal communication. Animals enhance the social skills of children. For the self-esteem of children, pets can also be important.
Another important aspect for the Lotus children, once they go back lateron to the country site, is in relation to the horse keeping. Horses live in Mongolia all year round (at 30 ° C in summer to -40 ° C in winter) and look for their food themselves. They supply milk for the national drink Airag. They also serve as a riding animal, both for the everyday work of the nomads as well as for horse breeding. Not least, they are an important factor in the tourism industry. In this aspect, it is important for the children to learn how to deal with horses.
One of the Lotus Orphanes
On my first visit Didi told me the story of one of the Mongolian orphan girls, which was wrapped in a blanket, aged about 10 days old was put at a cold night at the door step of the orphanage.That was in 2008.
Whenever I am in Mongolia and see the girl, the pictures run before my eyes reflecting how she arrived at Lotus. It is heartbreaking what kind of happy nature the now 9 year old girl is. Very extroverted. In meantime also mastering the English language.I am sure she will make her way. Thanks Dear Didi, Thank you Dear Team Lotus and Thank dear donor.
Pending and upcoming projects
Like any company Lotus has to permanently improve and adapt to changing conditions. So for instance the team keeps on trying to improve the eduction level for the orphanes. Obviously the education system of Mongolia still has room for improvement. Therefore „self-help is what is needed.
One of the projects under construction is the new „Life Skill Training Center“. A set-up where important „life skills“ are trained. Those are topics such as baking, cooking, metal or wood work, sewing, knitting, weaving etc. We will not be able to complete this all at once – but step for step. The house and the roof will be completed – thereafter we equipe the training center with the various disciplines. Obviously for this we urgently need funds.
Furthermore we are considering to engage ourselves with a solar project. We do have lots of sun all year. Today we spent about US$25‘000 per year on energy (coal, electric power and boiler maintenance). Now we are evaluting a project for a solar system which would provide relief in the rising energy consumption and cost. If we by using solar only half of the above energy expenses can be utilized for education, health or food we are already far better of.
We need your help. Thanks.
Idea is to cooeprate with a University in Switzerland assisting us with site survey and engineering proposal. Thereafter we would have to run a special funding project in order to realize the same.
Visit at the Lotus Campus
In the second half of 2017, Alliance4Kids paid a visit to the Lotus Kids. This valuable time is used to see how things are going. An important time to exchange with the manager Didi and the workforce in order to find out what is going on and what is planned in the near future. Valuable time, of course, to meet the kids.
So far so good - although it could always be better. It is interesting to see that the average age of Lotus Kids is increasing. This, of course, is related to the course of time - but compared to five years ago, fewer babies end up in the Lotus campus - which is certainly due to the fact that Mongolia has evolved, people can easier generate income and thus feed a family.
It is impressive to see how many of the children speak English. This is due to the provided school education, but also to the fact that Didi and the team put great attention on it. There are two libraries in the campus - one with Mongolian and one with English books. Good facilities which is used by the children well.
As far as the visa for Didi is concerned, you must apply for a new visa every 30 days. The authorities are still stubborn here, and Didi has to go the painful way. But she is confident that one day things will get better.
I also visited the newly opened cafe. See separate report.
Like it is to be for a visit there were also gifts brought along. Since the new school year started school year, pencils, notebooks and kneading materials are very useful. And tooth brush are always needed.
Lotus Café Opening
Lotus Children opened in the second quarter 2017 a café in Ulan Bataar. A project carried out in the sense of "Helping people help themselves". Alliance4Kids is grateful and proud having provided CHF6'000 for this project. Thanks to the Swiss company Endress+Hauser for the great and generous support.
The café is run with great joy and passion by the elders of the Lotus inhabitants. They organize themselves and provide their work time between their studies or school.
The Australian baker and chef Paul Wilderbeek has taken the time to train the young people on a professional level. The "students" were shown (among other things) how salad is prepared, soup cooked as well as how bread and cake is baked. Furthermore, topics such as presentation of the food and hygiene aspects were trained.
In addition to the generated income at the cafe, the trained abilities will be of help to the young people later on, as soon as they run their own life.
November 2017
Here is a newsletter from the Lotus Children's Center.
Download as PDF (19.1Mb) or the direct link.