To reach as many families as possible, World Vision donated one winter jacket per family from World Vision Singapore-Daimler Chrysler Gifts-in-Kind donation. The distribution consisted a total of 70 winter jackets, 75 sleeveless jackets, 188 shirts, 16 skirts, 20 suit covers, and 10 other clothing items.
Oyungerel, her sister and brother-in-law are all unemployed and are so poor that they cannot even afford a balanced diet. As a result, their children are also malnourished and suffer from stunted growth. Due to the poverty in which they live, they sometimes even have to resort to a loan to buy food. Oyungerel’s brother-in-law is the only breadwinner for the twelve of them and brings home about 80 000 Tugrugs (US$68) per month by finding work in a gold mine underground. Each time Oyungerel’s brother-in-law travels to the mine, it costs him about 8000 T (nearly US$7) for a return fare.
The unemployed moved into this mine when the mining company pulled out. There are over 10,000 people who mine by hand underground, digging holes of 3 to 10 meters deep, using spades, picks or metal rods which branch out into different tunnels.
Oyungerel’s brother-in-law works in a team of between 4 and 7 persons. He works a full day, digging the rubble out and then washes it to find gold. They sell the gold and divide the profit amongst themselves, which is usually about US$68 per month.
Poverty is the cause of concern in the area as eighty percent of the population lives below the poverty line (accordingly to a World Vision survey done in 2002). A large number of poor families with no assets to fall back on are living off charity and rubbish piles. Most of the communities have no other better way to live on than searching rubbish piles and washing gold in the mine to survive. Families, who live on lower incomes less than $15 a month, survive by collecting bones, cans, bottles and other things from dump sites to be sold for recycling.
Many families or migrants come to settle in this community to earn a living as the gold mine is located nearby. However, gold mining poses great danger as the mines run easily into the risk of collapse, burying many people alive but for the many unemployed, this is the only means to survive. Only a few people can able to run small businesses such as cooking meals to sell and retailing soft drinks, chewing gum and cigarettes at the markets.
These disastrous conditions are a result of the collapse of the communism regime and Mongolia’s quick transition towards a free market economy, leaving thousands unemployed. Many state factories, state institutions and peasant and herder’s cooperatives were closed down. Families, who haven’t any livestock or businesses, are unable to find any work. Only a selected few work in government services and private companies.
Most of the people moved from the countryside to the centre, especially to Arvaikheer and Kharkhorin, with the hopes that their life in the centre would improve. Matters just got worse. Most of them arrive with no residential permit or ID, which disqualifies them from receiving basic social services.
The Ovorkhangai ADP was started with the aim of helping children and families suffering in poverty. Oyungerel’s sister, Lkhamsuren has a child who is sponsored by World Vision and are enrolled in World Vision’s Summer Health Strengthening Camp where they received sprinkles (a micro-nutrient supplement for malnourished children), are given nutritious food and vitamin D. The family like this camp very much because they learn about childcare and the means to make nutritious food. As a result of these efforts, their children are now more active and their weight has also improved. Oyungerel’s child who earlier, was unable to walk due to malnourishment is also now much stronger and could walk.
This was a far cry before their involvement in the camp where the children become easily susceptible to flu and pneumonia due to malnutrition and diarrhea. During that time, they also developed anemia, suffered from small appetites and at times had to battle to sleep.
Lkhamsuren’s daughter also learnt how to sew through World Vision training.
“We cannot afford clothing, groceries, school stationery so we are very grateful for World Vision’s assistance,” says Oyungerel.
