One-third of Mongolia’s population experiences extreme poverty and is unable to afford basic food and shelter. The Asral NGO was established in 2001 by Tibetan Buddhist monk Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche to support families affected by poverty and hunger in the poorest sections of Ulanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. Asral is Mongolian for “care,” and this project with partner Maitreya Charity provides nutritious lunch meals as well as warm winter outerwear, tutoring, social-emotional learning, school supplies, dental care, health/hygiene instruction, books, toys, and games for 75 students. The grant also provides tuition for a small cohort of kindergarten children who otherwise would not be able to attend school, as well as coal for area families in need of this fuel for heating their homes.
The Asral Center in Ulanbaatar is the hub of these supports; its value transcends the individual services it provides. Having a safe place to spend hours each day is lifesaving for many of these children, and certainly future-saving for all. Without this opportunity, many children would be on their own, wandering outside or confined—sometimes tied to a bed—in the family ger (yurt). Choices are limited for many parents, especially single parents, and for many of these children, the lunch they receive here is the only substantial meal of the day.
This project is co-sponsored by BGR’s European sister organization, Mitgefühl in Aktion (MiA).
One-third of Mongolia’s population experiences extreme poverty and is unable to afford basic food and shelter. The Asral NGO was established in 2001 by Tibetan Buddhist monk Ven. Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche to support families affected by poverty and hunger in the poorest sections of Ulanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. Asral is Mongolian for “care,” and this project with partner Maitreya Charity provides nutritious lunch meals as well as warm winter outerwear, tutoring, social-emotional learning, school supplies, dental care, health/hygiene instruction, books, toys, and games for 75 students. The grant also provides tuition for a small cohort of kindergarten children who otherwise would not be able to attend school, as well as coal for area families in need of this fuel for heating their homes.
The Asral Center in Ulanbaatar is the hub of these supports; its value transcends the individual services it provides. Having a safe place to spend hours each day is lifesaving for many of these children, and certainly future-saving for all. Without this opportunity, many children would be on their own, wandering outside or confined—sometimes tied to a bed—in the family ger (yurt). Choices are limited for many parents, especially single parents, and for many of these children, the lunch they receive here is the only substantial meal of the day.
This project is co-sponsored by BGR’s European sister organization, Mitgefühl in Aktion (MiA).
