ADRA Australia representative Cameron Reid visited Mongolia
This January ADRA Australian representative Cameron Reid visited Mongolia to get a closer look at ADRA Australia’s projects based in Ulaanbaatar. At the end of his visit, he shared his opinion with us.
“When I visited during the summertime I received a great introduction to our work through the PRIME MED project, HEAT anti-tobacco project, and YEP non-formal education and training project. This winter I was able to gain a complete picture of the project activities in practice and see the results of our partnership from the very beginning of the process.
I was privileged to get a tour around the Hangarid Palace where I met the Common Service Department who had won a competition in creating the most effective smoke-free environment. During my tour I met a male employee who had managed to quit smoking because of the efforts in creating the smoke-free environment. In 1 month he had saved 30,000tugrik (1USD ~ 1250 tugrik) simply by placing the spare change in a glass piggy bank instead of buying a cigarett.
One of the key needs that ADRA Australia has seen over the past few years is greater integration between the key sectors in Mongolia. This shared vision is now coming to fruition with the REAP project. Still in it’s concept stage this project will fill gaps identified within the existing MED, Education and Food Security projects funded by ADRA Australia. During my visit I witnessed these needs, but also some amazing success stories where project integration had already informally occurred. In Baganuur I visited the NFE centre where some amazing students had done really well developing practical skills, some even with a great mind for developing a business, but without the skills and opportunity to gain the microfinance products needed to get their small businesses off to a good start. I witnessed similar stories in Zavkhan Aimag during the summer.
Moreover, I also visited a small business (SHG). This SHG had members who had been through both the YEP non-formal education program and MED’s CUES project (the predecessor to PRIME). Their SHG showed me that through hard work combined with the correct opportunities success can be reached, and we have the ability to provide those opportunities. I’m really excited about the new REAP concept and I’m looking forward to seeing it through to approval.
All in all it was a very rewarding visit and I’m looking forward to returning soon.”
Thanks Cameron for coming and sharing.
