Project at a Glance

Since 1993, the Mongolian Development Centre has worked to empower individuals, communities and institutions through education and training to support the process of building a progressive and sustainable society.  Their main programs include an Early Childhood Development Program, a Junior Youth Empowerment Program, and a Community Capacity Building Program that includes a Microfinance Program.

IMPACT
In 2011
• 42 kindergartens in seven localities served 5,878 students
• 12 schools in 5 cities involved 1,623 Junior Youth in 53 various service oriented groups
• Ten community banks operated in two cities, with a total of 179 members

About the Project

The Mongolian Development Center (MDC) was founded as a private initiative in 1993 with permission from the Mongolian Ministry of Education. In June 1998, the MDC was registered with the Ministry of Justice in Mongolia as a national non-governmental organization. Since then, the MDC has developed numerous interlinking projects and programs funded by a variety of organizations including OSED, the World Bank, UNICEF, AusAid, and the British, Dutch, German, Australian and Luxembourg Embassies in Mongolia and Beijing.

The Mongolian Development Center (MDC) is dedicated to the empowerment of individuals, communities and institutions through education and training to learn about and support the process of building a progressive and sustainable society, prosperous in the material, social, intellectual and spiritual aspects of life. Projects of the Mongolian Development Center include Community Gardening, Integral Human Development, Kindergarten Curriculum and Early Childhood Development, and Community Banking, a part of the Community Development Program. All MDC programs focus on education and the development of community capacity. Participation increases monthly as the popularity of the programs becomes more widespread.

Background and History

The Mongolian Development Center (MDC) was established as a private initiative in 1993 with permission from the Mongolian Ministry of Education and later became a research center at the Mongolian Technical University, offering commercial English courses and conducting small-scale empirical economic research. The MDC became an active promoter of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), publishing CRC documents in conjunction with UNICEF and sponsoring an NGO conference on children's rights, including an exhibition on “Child Nutrition and Gardening” and a “Family Greenhouse Project.” This conference was repeated the following year and expanded to include a program on “Respect for Children.”

In 1997, MDC activities expanded further to include a Community Gardening Project implemented in five cities, and the promotion of a “Children's Rights” exhibit which was shown in over 30 schools. In the following years, programs such as the Family Greenhouse Project were extended; and through the Child Development and Capacity Development of Family Groups Programs, the effect of kindergarten teacher training on early childhood character development impacted 540 children in six kindergartens.

The Badi Foundation's “Hidden Gems” curriculum was later adopted for kindergarten, and other programs were added such as the Integral Human Development Project and the Poverty Reduction Project. The Integral Human Development Project involved 160 families and has had a positive impact on the many participants in the expanded programs.

Programs

Early Childhood Development Program: This program involves kindergarten teacher and parent training and a character development curriculum for 3-5 year olds. The Early Childhood Development Program was originally created to support the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Mongolian government's program and strategies for the development and education of children. Since 2003, this program has focused on education for children ages 3-6, especially character development.

The program is based on the conviction that every child is a noble human being with innate capacities and potential. Program objectives include: To develop moral capabilities in children which are fundamental in helping them develop the desire to render service to humanity; and to empower teachers to master the knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate the character development of children; to create and apply a systematic curriculum in an increasing number of kindergartens aimed at developing moral capabilities in children aged 3-6, as a supplement to the existing core pre-school education activities required by government standards; to train kindergarten teachers to use the character development curriculum to help develop capable and enthusiastic youth who are interested in serving their communities .

Junior Youth Empowerment Program: This program operates in State Secondary Schools and is aimed at developing moral capabilities in adolescents as well as their power of positive expression. The program's main objective is to empower 12-14 year olds to reveal and develop the noble qualities innate within them and to consciously use these qualities for service to humanity. The specific aim is to develop two key capabilities: 1) The ability to use the power of words to express themselves; and 2) To exercise their innate moral capabilities in their daily actions and decisions, and to be conscious of the consequences of their language and their actions. The duration of the program is one year, during which junior youth, aged 12-14, participate in a sequence of courses at three levels. In each of the three courses, they participate in variety of activities appropriate to their age.

The Community Capacity Development Program: This program includes a Community Banking Microfinance Program and an Integrated Gardening Program. Participants in other of the Mongolian Development Center's programs may also participate in these.

The Community Banking Microfinance Program: The purpose of this program is to increase the financial resources available in the community and to build local capacity to manage these resources.

MDC began implementing the Community Banking Program in 2004 in Baganuur, where one community bank was established. Since then, five additional community banks have been formed. The most recent of these is the Degerekh Community Bank, established in 2006, with 20 members from the first khorloo in Baganuur. Prior to the establishment of the Degerekh Community Bank, the program was introduced to interested members of the community and followed by three days of training on how to establish and manage a community bank, manage savings and loans, keep accounts and allocate dividends and profits. In 2011, there were ten community banks operating with a total of 179 members.

Stories

Ts. Munkhtsetseg, Director of Kindergarten 62, on early childhood education:
“Since 2003, our kindergarten has been involved in the program of the Mongolian Development Center. We have observed not only an enormous increase in children's character development, but also great progress in the development of moral qualities and relationships among the teachers. “The children in the three groups involved in the program show marked differences in terms of their character and relationships. Their social interaction is more advanced. This shows the effectiveness of the program implementation, Teachers who are involved in the program are more creative, more adaptable and less likely to be rigid than other teachers. Having these character development classes has a positive influence on the children's relationships, and also on their parents and families. The parents of children involved in this program participate more actively than other parents.

“We are very happy to collaborate with Mongolian Development Centre. Because of this collaboration there are many positive changes in the psychology of children, parents and teachers. I am confident that eventually all the children and teachers of our kindergarten will be involved in this program. MDC is not only helping teachers activities but it's also giving priceless advice and helping us to organizing training on how to increase collaboration with parents. May the brightness of the mental insights of you and your coworkers be always shining.”

Purev-Ochir, 7th grade, school #34 on Junior Youth Program
“Our class started Junior Youth Program in September, 2007. Last year we studied “Breezes of Confirmation”. This book helped me to understand importance of the purpose of life. Whenever I set a goal I am trying my best to achieve my goal. This summer I attended intensive summer course and studied “Glimmerings of Hope.” I understood a lot from this book. For example: what is hope; even little glimmerings of hope give encouragement to achieve one's goal. Also making right choice is very important. Through Kibomi's story I understood whenever we face difficulties we should have courage to make right choice like him… Ages of 11 to 15 are very critical moment in person's life. In these ages many junior youth make wrong choices. So MDC is helping us to live a meaningful life.”