Orientation
On the first day of your programme in Mongolia, the project coordinators provide you with a complete orientation. This covers a number of topics including:
- An induction to Mongolian values and culture
- Health and safety issues while in Mongolia
- Project ethics and etiquette
- Transport and money in Mongolia
- An introduction to the region
- Local practices and food
- Areas to visit during your free time
- A trip to the nearest town
- Being introduced to your host family
On your second day you will be collected from your host family’s home by your project representative, who will take you to your orphanage or school where you will be volunteering for the next three weeks.
Accommodation and Meals
During your volunteering, you will stay with a local host family in Ulaanbaatar. This is an excellent way to get to know the local culture and a great chance to understand more about Mongolia. The host family regard your stay as a chance to learn about your culture too, and an opportunity for them and their children to practise spoken English. If you want to stay at the same host family as your friend or partner, please request this when you book onto the programme. You will have your own bedroom during your home-stay and facilities will include a bath or shower and western-style flush toilet. Accommodation, however, is basic in Mongolia so please be prepared for this.
Your host family will give you two daily meals: breakfast and dinner. A typical Mongolian meal consists of potatoes, vegetables, rice and meat. Vegetarians may find it difficult in Mongolia because meat is the focal ingredient of every meal. We can pre-warn Host families about their volunteer being a vegetarian, and they will cook meals separately from the meat. However, if you are a vegetarian you may be expected at times to buy some of your own ingredients/meals and cook certain meals yourself.
Free Time
You will be working for about eight hours every day on your volunteer project. Breaks during the day vary according to what your duties are, but you will have a standard one-hour lunch-break.
You will have free time at the weekends exploring Ulaanbaatar or for travelling further a field. But you may just want to relax and spend time with your host family or fellow volunteers!
Project Support
All through your time in Mongolia you will have the assistance and help of our very friendly project coordinators. You can ask them as many questions as you need to and get assistance whenever you want. As well as this you will receive a 24-hour emergency contact number so you can contact our UK staff should you need to.
Project Age Limit
The minimum age allowed on this programme is 18 years; the maximum age is dependant on the health of the potential participant.
