About Raleigh Mongolia
Raleigh Mongolia is a not-for-profit, non-religious and non-governmental organization, registered and based in Mongolia. We are in alliance with Raleigh International and supports its international vision and mission to develop young people who work together to build a better world. We aim to create opportunities for young people from all background, cultures and nationalities to connect with Mongolia and her youths through volunteer activities.
About Raleigh International
Raleigh International is a sustainable development charity and harness the passion and energy of young people to effect positive change in sustainable development. Raleigh International programms focus on providing access to safe water and sanitation, protecting vulnerable environments and building resilient communities. Work of Raleigh International is delivered through young people and is a collaboration between local communities, partners and volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, nationalities and life stages. Raleigh International operates in partnership with communities, non-governmental organisations and governments in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Nepal and Tanzania. Since its foundation as a charity in 1984, Raleigh volunteers have become a global community of more than 40,000 people committed to building a sustainable future. Raleigh supports people on transformational journeys that develop crucial personal and professional skills, values and attitudes, through the achievement of expedition challenges in a positive act of international service.
Expedition Learning & Development
The expedition is based on an experiential and reflective learning methodology that is a powerful way of developing skills, knowledge, awareness and capabilities. On operation Amar Sain project Nami each venture worked alongside 10-12 other volunteers, and 2-3 Staff members in remote locations with basic living conditions. The teams were equipped to be self-sufficient for 2 week projects. They had to take responsibility for their own personal equipment as well as all the tools, food, and project equipment. In addition, the volunteers took on the role of group leader on a rotational basis during each phase. The 'Day Leaders' were responsible for motivating, organising and leading the group during that day’s activities. This often involved liaising with project partners or community leaders about what had to be achieved on that particular day and then ensuring that the team met those targets. While on project the Volunteers were asked about their personal goals and coached and supported by the Staff team on how they could best achieve them. Progress was regularly reviewed throughout the project, including group discussions and debriefing at the end of the days. Open and constructive feedback during group review sessions was also facilitated amongst team members. In this way, venturers took part in numerous personal and team reviews. Therefore, each and every participant has the opportunity for development in the following areas:
Leadership
Volunteers undertook the role of group leader on a rotational basis during each phase. The Day Leader was responsible for motivating, organising and leading the group during that day’s activities. This often involved liaising with project partners or community leaders about what had to be achieved on that particular day and then ensuring that the team met those targets.
Team working
On each project phase every venturer was working in a diverse group with people who all had different motivations, work ethics, attitudes, cultures and life experiences. This team had to live and work together during the period of operation Amar Sain. Therefore, the situation purposefully challenged them to listen to each other, understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, allocate roles and responsibilities, overcome conflict and motivate one another to achieve the project goals.
Cultural Awareness
Volunteering on Raleigh operations offers a unique cultural exchange that is rare to achieve whilst travelling independently. Volunteers had the opportunity of either living in community centres, or campsites within or near villages. This gave them a unique opportunity to share the life of the community, their customs, activities and stories, offer basic English teaching in schools or community centres, to play sport together or participate in other cultural events. Each project group included members from the host country, Singapore and Malaysia, giving the opportunity to develop intercultural communication skills and enhance global awareness.
Problem solving, innovation and adaptability
Raleigh activities are called ‘expeditions’ for a reason. The expeditions work on real projects in real world situations in challenging environments. Although contingences are made for most eventualities, bad weather, vehicle breakdowns etc. can change the best laid plans. Inevitably, such events place the project team under pressure to cope, adapt to, and resolve such issues.
Operation Amar Sain
Operation Amar Sain is a 2-week expedition, jointly organized by Raleigh Mongolia and Raleigh Singapore in rural areas of Mongolia. Operation Amar Sain consists of community development and environmental conservation projects in rural areas of Mongolia involving young volunteers from Mongolia and South East Asian countries, mostly Singapore and Malaysia. We call our participants venturers and on the expeditions they go through 2-3 phases of environmental, community and adventure projects.
Prior to the expedition, venturers go through an induction programme consisting of practical exercises designed to prepare themselves and the volunteers for the expedition programme. In the field, each project is led by the volunteer Staff who performed the role of safety supervisor, facilitator, counsellor, and instructor, with overall responsibility for the project. However, the volunteer teams are expected to make the decisions affecting their working targets, living arrangements, and effective day to day life.
Recent Projects
The following projects were undertaken on Operation Amar Sain 2019:
Community development
Projects are often in remote, rural and marginalised communities. Living and working so close to local people is a great opportunity to learn and share about each other’s culture, traditions, languages and lives. Volunteers from Mongolia, Singapore and Malaysia have worked alongside the local community and project partners on sustainable development projects such as improving access to health care services by insulating and renovating the local clinic, conducting health screening services, and introducing the first ever decomposing toilets to the community. During the community development project, volunteers taught basic English lessons to local children to improve community engagement.
Environmental conservation
The Raleigh team planted 800 larch and pine tree seedlings in pots in a nearby forested area of Selenge soum of Bulgan province. Despite the existing use of trees for timber production, the community awareness level of sustainable forest management is at very low. By planting seedlings in pots with involvement of the local community members and forest rangers, we aimed to raise awareness of sustainable forest management.
Interpersonal communication
The social nature of expedition offers an environment where listening, discussing, and persuading, as well as interpreting the meaning and implications of verbal and non-verbal communication are practiced almost continuously.
Confidence and self-awareness
The intense social environment of living with a team 24 hours, 7 days of the week on expedition mean that volunteers learn a lot about themselves. They learn what their boundaries are, how to cope under pressure, solve problems, live without home comforts, adapt to different cultures and learn where their strengths and weaknesses lie. They will have met new people and made new friends, and contributed to their projects success. This experience helps develop participants’ confidence and self-awareness.
Mental resilience and a 'can do approach'
Expedition life is tough and rewarding. The challenges faced and overcome on a personal, team and project level develops mental resilience and a positive and proactive approach when faced with hardship.
Active Citizenship
Overall, participants of Raleigh expeditions become more aware of their own values, perceptions and respect the diversity of others; they recognize that we live in an interdependent world; and first-hand experience develops understanding and passion for social justice, sustainable development and our environment. We are confident that such experience will impact positively on each and every participants’ outlook, personal potential and active engagement in their community.