Volunteer in Mongolia

Mongolia is the country of Chinggis Khan. It is one of the few countries left in the world with nomadic culture and vast area of untouched wilderness. Mongolia borders both China and Russia. Mongolia is well-known with its breathtaking countryside, gorgeous horses, and men with incredible horse-riding skills.

With over 600,000 square miles, Mongolia is the 18th largest country in the world and one of the least populated countries with a population of only 3 million people. There are approximately 65% of the population under 35 years old. The country has a wealth of livestock including horse, cow, camel, sheep, and goat. There are 3.9 million horses in the country, which accounts as 1.3 horse for every person.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, is the capital and the largest city of Mongolia. The city lies at 4,300 ft above sea level and it is the coldest capital city in the world. Today Mongolia is a democratic country. The capital is a unique city with mixed culture, architecture ranging from old soviet style buildings, Buddhist monasteries, nomadic Gers (Mongolian traditional dwellings with 5000 years of history) to modern skyscrapers and European buildings.

Although the city has expanded in the last years, many people still live in poverty. Most public schools and hospitals are overcrowded and lack skilled professionals and medical staff. Since Mongolians have low life expectancy lots of focus on health includes live, lung and stomach cancers – as with liver and stomach cancer deaths per population Mongolia ranks #1 in the world.

Mongolia has four seasons with temperature ranging from -40°F to 104°F, summer lasting from May to August, fall in September and October, winter from November to February, and spring March and April. Official language is Mongolian, and most schools teach English.

Volunteer in a children’s care center in the capital city which provides comprehensive environment for children with special needs including speech therapy, physical education, music, fitness, and cognitive interaction activities. In this program you’ll would work with children between the ages of 3-6 years old.

The center receives between 75-80 student a year. The focus is on pre-school education for children with hearing, speech, intellectual disabilities and autism. The mission is to provide early education for special needs children, to promote healthy hygiene practices and help restore, repair and improve their well-being. The school aims to ensure the development of children using flexible, individualized attention and programs based on the learning needs of the children with disabilities.

Volunteer in Mongolia’s primary government care center for abandoned children ages new born through 3 years old. The care center provides a home and medical care for both orphans and abandoned children with focus on babies, and toddlers up to 3 years old. The center provides a loving home for 35 – 50 infants and toddlers, some of which have serious special needs.

Mongolia has a significant number of children living in residential care. Unable to provide suitable living conditions, many destitute parents pursue outside care for their children. Often, care institutions offer a temporary solution while struggling families work toward stability in their lives. The at-risk children are provided proper nutrition, developmental support, medical attention and a chance they need to recover and thrive. The main goal is the restore the children’s health which will enable some of the kids to reunite with their birth families or join adoptive families.

Volunteers assist medical and residential support staff with the infant’s basic needs such as feeding, bathing and clothing, putting them down for naps and changing diapers, playing with the toddlers and engaging them in physical activities and exercise. Volunteers from all backgrounds are welcome.

Volunteer with children who have hearing and speech disabilities. Located in Ulaanbaatar, this is the only school in Mongolia which provides special needs education. Many Mongolian children from the outer provinces send their children to the capital to receive proper education at this very special school. Volunteers can work with different ages and levels.

Grade levels are split between pre-school, primary and high school education and focuses on special methodology and technology. The school also organizes sign language training for adults with hearing impairments. The school has capacity for 500 children and can accommodate 300 students in dormitories. Volunteers with ASL training and those who have skills or experience working with children and young adults with hearing and speech disabilities are welcome and needed.

Volunteer in a large state maternity hospital located in the Sukhbaatar district of Ulaanbaatar. The hospital has 75 inpatient beds and provides childbirth, gynecology, maternity and new born care services. The facilities are very basic, and most patients have traveled great distances to be attended to. Volunteers will focus in areas of pre-natal, post-natal care and the delivery room. Volunteers will be able to provide emotional support & encouragement to women in labor. Assist the nurses and midwives where needed, for example, weighing new babies.

It is important to note opportunities to provide hands-on work will always be at the discretion of local practitioners. Expect a mainly observational role which can lead to more duties as you settle into your placement. This is a challenging medical placement due to lack of facilities, but a great learning environment. Volunteers need to bring their own medical scrubs, gloves, mask for personal use.

By joining our healthcare volunteer program in Mongolia, you will have a great opportunity to learn about medical challenges in a developing country. In Mongolia volunteers find that limited resource means prenatal care is a luxury for most expectant mothers. Volunteers also discover that cultural traditions surrounding birth in Mongolia are very different from those at home, providing you with new insight and lots of professional growth.

Volunteer in a local kindergarten or primary school as an English teacher. English is taught in public school, but schools rarely have native English speakers to help with proper pronunciation. The students (and teachers) love to have the opportunity to practice their English language. Located in downtown Ulaanbaatar, volunteers can work with kindergarten or primary level classes. his is the only school in Mongolia which provides special needs education.

Being able to speak English is a great way for children in Mongolia to evade a life of poverty. With the growing tourist trade in Mongolia having English opens a lot of opportunities for English speaking locals. ABV teaching English programs are focused in Ulaanbaatar, in public schools which are under resourced and lack dedicated English teachers

TEFL training is not a requirement, and in this program, volunteers gain useful work experience by teaching abroad. Whether volunteering while on a gap year, over a vacation, or as a trained professional, you will have a significant role in our teaching project in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia.

Volunteer in a busy state hospital located in Ulaanbaatar. As a medical student you will work directly with the local doctors and nurses. Although medicine is practiced similar to that in the US or UK, in Mongolia facilities are generally very basic and equipment is in short supply. With the lack of equipment, volunteers learn the interesting and inventive solutions to clinical problems which the Mongolian doctors face daily.

Over the years, A Broader View have worked with hundreds of medical students wishing to complete their elective placement by volunteering abroad. A Broader View staff can work closely with your university adviser to ensure the requirements of your elective criteria can be met. As part of the elective you will be assigned to a local licensed doctor who will oversee your placement.

It is important to note opportunities to provide hands-on work will always be at the discretion of the local doctor. Expect a mainly observational role which can lead to more duties as you settle into your placement. This is a challenging medical placement due to lack of facilities, but a great learning environment. Volunteers will be provided a list of necessary medical supplies to bring with them.

By joining our healthcare volunteer program in Mongolia, you will have a great opportunity to learn about medical challenges in a developing country. In Mongolia, we hope our volunteers discover cultural traditions very different from those at home and are provided new insight and lots of professional growth.

*This program is suitable for currently enrolled medical students.

Volunteer in a busy woman’s hospital located in Ulaanbaatar. While maternity needs are the main focus, nursing volunteers have the opportunity to help in the neonatal NICU, assist with administering vaccines to babies, observing woman’s surgeries such as hysterectomy, tubal ligations and C-section deliveries.

Over the years, A Broader View have worked with hundreds of student nurses wishing to complete their elective placement by volunteering abroad. A Broader View staff can work closely with your university adviser to ensure the requirements of your elective criteria can be met. As part of the elective you will be assigned to a local licensed nurse who will oversee your placement.

It is important to note opportunities to provide hands-on work will always be at the discretion of the local doctor. Expect a mainly observational role which can lead to more duties as you settle into your placement. This is a challenging placement due to lack of facilities, but a great learning environment. Volunteers will be provided a list of necessary medical supplies to bring with them.

By joining our healthcare volunteer program in Mongolia, you will have a great opportunity to learn about nursing challenges woman face in a developing country. In Mongolia, we hope our volunteers discover cultural traditions very different from those at home and are provided new insight and lots of professional growth.

*This program is suitable for currently enrolled student students and recent nurse graduates.

Since A Broader View Volunteers is a 501c(3) charitable organization, You can fundraise (optional) for the expenses of the trip after you get confirmed in our programs. Prices are per person and in US dollars (US$).