Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the terrible economic and social conditions in Mongolia became apparent. Therefore SOS Children's Villages decided to start working in the country.
The economic instability led to an increase in the number of children who had lost parental care and were living below the poverty line. Over the past decades, SOS Children's Villages has expanded and adapted its activities to meet the changing needs of children, young people and families.
At present there are two SOS Children's Villages in Mongolia, one SOS Youth Facility and one SOS Social Centre (Family Strengthening Programme).
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Please help us ensure a loving home for every child. Sponsor a child in Mongolia now.
For just $36/month you can sponsor a child and help provide an orphaned or abandoned child with:
- A safe and nurturing home
- A loving SOS mother
- Quality education
- Healthcare
- Nutritious food
- Clothing and toys
- All the things necessary for a bright future
SOS Children's Villages in Mongolia
The shifting social, economic and political situation in Mongolia has increased the number of vulnerable children and families. SOS Children's Villages has responded to these changes by setting up a variety of support programmes. Young people can live in special houses where they are guided on their path to an independent life with the help of professionals.
The SOS Social Centres run family-strengthening programmes, which support families in need by providing them with information about parenting skills, nutrition, health and finances. When, in spite of all support provided, children can no longer be cared for by their parents or relatives, they can move into an SOS family where they are looked after by an SOS mother.
Some facts about Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in the east of Central Asia. It has borders with Russia in the north and with the People's Republic of China in the east, south and west. Around 3.1 million people live in Mongolia (July 2011 est.); the capital city of Ulaanbaatar has nearly one million inhabitants (2008 est.). Most people are of Mongol ethnicity, and the official language is Khalkha Mongol. The main religion in the country is Buddhist Lamaism.
Mongolia has an extreme climate characterised by long winters with subarctic temperatures and very hot summers with temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius. The unpredictability of the weather often results in the destruction of crops and the death of cattle; this causes serious problems for the rural families who rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood.
As a result of perestroika in Russia, a period of political and economic liberalisation began in 1989. The constitution was rewritten and a pluralist democratic system was introduced in 1992. The Mongolian National Democratic Party won the parliamentary elections of 1996, which marked the end of 75 years of Communist rule in Mongolia.
Persistently high poverty rates in spite of economic growth
Mongolian society has undergone rapid social, economic and political changes in recent decades. Poverty and unemployment were widespread during the first decades after the fall of the Soviet Union. However, the economy began to recover, growing by an average of nine per cent between 2004 and 2008. Gross domestic product rose by about six per cent in 2010. The unemployment rate stands at around 11.5 per cent (2009 est.). At present, approximately 61 per cent of the population works in the services; industry accounts for around five per cent and agriculture for about 34 per cent. Some analysts believe that the country could be transformed into one of the world's fastest growing economies if its rich natural resources were exploited.
In spite of recent improvement in living conditions, the level of poverty has remained persistently high over the past two decades; more than 36 per cent of people live under the nationally-defined poverty line. People in rural areas face many disadvantages: the poverty rate has increased in recent years; less than half the population has access to improved drinking water and only a third has sanitation facilities. In addition, the economic uncertainties and the lack of opportunities have forced families to migrate to cities in search of work. Approximately two thirds of the population lives in urban areas, but the number is increasing rapidly.
Situation of the children in Mongolia
There are around 862,000 children under the age of 18 living in Mongolia. Over the past decades, the government has increasingly promoted and protected the rights of children by ratifying international treaties and implementing national legislation. The lives of children have improved in many ways, for example, infant and child mortality has decreased. However, they have also been affected by the on-going challenges posed by the political, economic and social changes. The high poverty rate and the social and geographic inequalities have hindered progress towards improving the lives of children.
In the past decades, the divorce rate has increased and the number of crimes committed against children has risen. The number of children committing crimes has also grown: about ten per cent of the imprisoned population is under the age of 18 - the most common causes for receiving a sentence are theft and robbery.
Child labour is a persistent problem; around 18 per cent of children between the ages of five and 14 are involved in work. Children in rural areas are more likely to be forced to work for free; it is calculated that about 90 per cent of rural children work for their families. They are less likely to attend school, thus limiting their chances of finding a job in the future.
The precarious conditions of women and children, especially in the poorer rural areas, make them particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. Mongolian women and children are trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation, not only to surrounding countries, but also further afield. The problem is believed to be rising, and the government has initiated an action plan to combat human trafficking.
Our Impact
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The SOS Children's Village in Mongolia provides loving homes to orphaned and abandoned children |
2 VILLAGES | 151 Orphaned and Abandoned Children |
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The SOS Youth Facilities in Mongolia provides youth with a loving environment where they learn to transition into independent living and to expand their education |
1 YOUTH FACILITIES | 23 Youths in our Care |
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SOS Social Centres in Mongolia aim is to help families, in particular women and children, living in communities neighbouring the SOS Children's Villages to gradually escape from poverty, and to help young people become self-reliant. |
1 SOCIAL CENTRES | 812 Beneficiaries |
Our Impact
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