Mongolia has a new SOS Children's Village

In July 2009, a dedication ceremony was organised for the second SOS Children's Village in Mongolia in Darkhan in presence of Mr. Gunchin, Governor of Darkhan province, Mr. D. Hayanhyarvaa local Member of Parliament, and officials.

The children, mothers and co-workers were very excited to host the ceremony and they themselves decorated their houses. "We are really fortunate that our Village is dedicated when we are celebrating 60th anniversary of SOS Children's Villages and also Mongolia is ready to celebrate its national Naadam festival this weekend," said an SOS mother. "The presence of all these people shows to the children that how much we care, we love and we want to go together with them," said President Kutin, "we want to show to the children that in our hearts we have a place and we want to do best for them…Just look at their faces, look at their eyes, there's so much hope and potential, let's develop it together."

SOS President Kutin wished the mothers and co-workers on the occasion and congratulated the national director Tserendavaa Jambal for her outstanding work for the children. Flaunting colourful traditional Mongolian costumes children were adding camaraderie to already excited environment. They were busy playing with balloons, whispering, tasting continental recipes and posing for the pictures. "I love my home, my mother and my youngest brother; he always wants to roam in my arms," chuckled Saira on asking what she loved the most.The guests were really amused to see the performance of children who presented variety of traditional Mongolian song and dance. Later, the children and mothers invited guests to their houses. President Helmut Kutin paid a courtesy call on President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and thanked him for the co-operation. President of Mongolia thanked SOS Children's Villages for the new project at Darkhan and said that his government would assist the organisation in a bid to helping out children in need. Mr. Demberel Damdin, Speaker of the Parliament of Mongolia wished on 60th anniversary of SOS Children's Villages and sent greetings. After capital Ulaanbaatar had an SOS Children's Village in 2002, the government and civil society requested the organisation to open an SOS Children's Village in the interest of the children in need at the northern city of Darkhan near the border with Russia.

The Government of Darkhan made available the land for the SOS Children’s Village in the heart of the city. The 491st SOS Children's Village has been built on 40,000 square metres of land and the foundation laid on April 28, 2006. It consists of 14 family houses, village directors' house, aunts' house, multipurpose hall, administration and service area. Approximately 42 percent of the Mongolian population is below the age of 18 years - over 1,000,000 are children. What is matter of concern is that despite efforts from the government and voluntary organisations the number of orphaned children increased more than 20 % between 2000 and 2005 for which data is available (UNICEF). Mongolia introduced reforms after abandoning Soviet-era system and is going through a transition phase. Rural to urban migration, unemployment, financial uncertainty and poverty led to a situation where needy children haven't much say and the present system is unable to address their plight. Approximately 60 percent of the population lives in urban areas, with major concentrations in the three main cities of Ulaanbaatar as the national capital, Darkhan City and Erdenet City. Darkhan has a population of more than 100,000 and situated 300 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar and takes four hours by road.