Location
Jargalant town, Orkhon region, Mongolia
Community Description
Jargalant — popularly known as “Ulaan Tolgoi” or “Red Head” — is situated in Orkhon province, in the central, northern region of the country. It was founded in 1978, and there were many Russians among its early planners and residents. It is situated about 30 km outside of Erdenet, one of the country’s major urban hubs.
Traditionally, Mongolians lived as semi-nomadic herders, moving once per season with their herds. This is still the standard lifestyle of many modern Mongolians. But living in the remote countryside comes with many challenges.
For one thing, there is the question of their children’s education. Jargalant 12-Year Secondary School is the only school in this county. It is a public institution and there are currently just over 500 students enrolled. To accommodate the children of local herding families, there is a student dormitory in a separate but nearby building.
The dormitory can house up to 50 students and currently has about 40 students, aged 6-17, living there during the week. Many of these children return to their families in the countryside on the weekends. There is one adult “house mother” who permanently lives in the same building. There is also a “dormitory teacher” who works there during the day.
Like all of Jargalant town, the dormitory does not have running hot water. There is a shower house in town that offers hot showers for the price of 1300 tug rugs for children (about $1) — approximately the entire weekly allowance of most of the dormitory students. Needless to say, very few of them take advantage of this service. The local hospital considers this lack of access to running hot water to be a health hazard.
The dormitory washroom currently has two water-heating shower fixtures, but these are designed for individual households. Both have broken, and repairs have not been successful.
Project Description
This project is to provide running hot water for the school dormitory.
Project funds will be used to purchase a new, industrial-grade water boiler, with all attachments and fixtures, for installation in the dormitory washroom.
The Haier 40-liter water heater has a sufficiently-large capacity to supply water to two shower heads at one time, and can provide showers for many children in close succession before needing to refill and reheat. The attachments to be purchased include two shower heads, flexible water piping, and pipe joints.
The dormitory “house mother” will help purchase everything in Erdenet. Jargalant School’s plumber and electrician will help with the installation and upkeep of the boiler.
Project Impact
This project will directly affect approximately 40-45 school children per academic year.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Laura Alexander
Comments
This simple project will greatly improve the health and well-being of the students who reside in the dormitory.
Laura previously completed the Jargalant Public Hospital Water Purifier Project – Mongolia.
Dollar Amount of Project
$420.00
Donations Collected to Date
$420.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Laura Alexander.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Laura of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Laura and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.