Who We Are
ADRA COUNTRY DIRECTOR'S WORDS
The Gobi desert is a harsh and unforgiving environment - very cold in winter and too hot in warmer months. It’s the dry and endless flat ground full of rocks and sand that make it a hostile climate. It’s a difficult environment to sustain life. Well, that’s what I thought. But the Gobi Tree (Haloxylon ammodendron) is simply awesome. Like everything in Mongolia it’s stoic, tough and loves good competition.
Growing in the desert regions, it survives strong winds, poor soil and infrequent water supply, producing an unparalleld adaptation to the environmental conditions. The Gobi Tree grows very slowly, and rarely reaches a height in excess of ten feet – their gnarled, weathered trunks are obvious evidence of the hardship of their living conditions. Initially growing horizontally, the tree can look like a shrub even after many years. Only after many years, or even a decade - eventually a tree appears. From the sprouting, dense and thorny branches, other life grows abundantly; eagles, insects and other reptiles congregate around its protection and shelter. The wood is so hard it sinks in water, while the forests also support species that are specific to the tree – various insects, and even a Gobi tree sparrow.
I have been to the Gobi desert and seen many of these trees growing. It was a wonderful experience to observe their growth and impact on surrounding areas. I feel that the Gobi Tree is a fantastic metaphor for our community development work. Like the Gobi Tree, our work starts in tough conditions; poverty, social disadvantage, domestic violence and economic hardship. It grows, slowly at first, vulnerable due to the lack of opportunities. The skills and means from the project activities strengthen the potential for our clients to be all that they want to be. Further to this our community partners provide leadership, support and resources and benefits flow to others. If only it was that easy all the time. We face challenges, just as the Gobi Tree is not as common as it used to be.
After 15 years (1994 – 2009) of ADRA in Mongolia, I want to pause and give a heartfelt thanks to all our community partners, staff, Government at Soum, Aimag and National levels, and our amazing donors for the wonderful impact that ADRA has made on so many lives. In 2009 we were thankful for the support and guidance from our Board of members and the North Asia Pacific Division for their time, encouragement and resources to continue our vital work here in Mongolia. I have no doubt that we will continue to all work together for the benefit of the disadvantaged in Mongolia; and we appreciate your support. I am inspired by the growth, tenacity and beauty of the Gobi Tree despite such harsh and difficult circumstances. This inspiration is my challenge to you; Join us to continue to seek improved development outcomes for all Mongolians. The potential of even just one human life to achieve all it can be, should inspire each one of us to leave the world a better place than how we found it.
Chris Jensen
Country Director
