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 industrial and mining hubs.

Jargalant was intended to function as a farming town to supply foodstuffs for Erdenet. After the transition from a planned economy in the early 1990's, Ulaan Tolgoi's many large, state-owned industries were privatized and unfortunately few of them remain in operation today. Now, the majority of the town's some 3,300 inhabitants are private vegetable farmers or herders. The community has one secondary school, two banks, a public hospital, and a number of other small, private businesses (including a few shops, two veterinaries, a hair salon, and a flour mill).

The Jargalant Public Hospital treats some 40-45 bed patients every month and provides services to approximately 30-35 outpatients every day and employs 22 workers. The tap water has a high mineral content and is not considered suitable drinking water unless it has been boiled. Currently, the hospital uses a small water boiler to provide water to its patients. However, these have a low capacity and break frequently, as they are subject to heavy use every day.

Project Description
This project is to purchase and install an electric water purifier to provide safe, clean water for hospital patients and workers.

The purifier will be attached directly to a water pipe and thus will not need to be refilled. It will provide both hot and cold water -- an important feature in Mongolia where many people shy away from drinking cold water (and where average winter temperatures hover around -20 Celsius).

The purifier will be installed in the primary service room, which is located just next to the entrance lobby and waiting room. This location maximizes accessibility for both in- and out-patients, as well as for staff.

The purifier will be purchased from a local distributor in Erdenet. The distributor has already been contacted and will deliver and install all equipment free of charge. The distributor will also provide a brief training on maintenance and upkeep to hospital workers.

New filters will be re-purchased by the hospital for a nominal cost every 3-6 months.

Project Impact
The project will affect the some 850 people who pass through the hospital every month, including hospital staff.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Laura Alexander

Comments
This is a simple but effective solution to the problem of providing safe water to visitors and staff at the hospital.

Dollar Amount of Project
$525.00

Donations Collected to Date
$300.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$225.00

Community Description
Baruun-Urt is the capital of Sukhbaatar Aimag (province), which is located in eastern Mongolia, bordering China. The city is 550 km away from the largest city and capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. Sukhbaatar Aimag itself is a small province of about 55,000 people, of which about 15,000 live in Baruun-Urt.

The surrounding areas of Baruun-Urt are mineral-rich, with a large zinc mine seven kilometers away from the city. The available drinking water has high levels of sulfur which residents rarely, if ever, filter.

In recent years, the number of people in Sukhbaatar who have stomach diseases, liver and gallbladder disorders has increased significantly due to the bad quality of the drinking water. Baruun-Urt water is supplied by deep wells and with pipes to those with running water.

Sukhbaatar General Hospital is the main provider of health care in the province, and they serve thousands of people a year in their inpatient units and outpatient clinics. As of now, the patients who are hospitalized have no source of drinking water. Family members provide patients with tea and water from home or buy bottled water from the nearby stores.

Project Description
This project is to provide a reliable source of clean water for the patients at the Sukhbaatar General Hospital by purchasing and installing a large water distiller. The distiller removes impurities through boiling the water and condensing the steam.

The water distiller will be placed in the kitchen in the main hospital where it can be accessed for drinking water and cooking. Water will be passed out to the patients with their meals.

The kitchen staff will be responsible for the maintenance and use and will be trained accordingly. The hospital will pay the costs for any future needs of the distiller.

Project funds will be used to purchase the distiller and transport it from the capital.

Project Impact
This project will benefit the 160 patients who occupy the inpatient units each day plus the 275 workers.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Kate Borkowski

Comments
The distiller will remove most of the mineral contaminants from the water and provide the patients and staff with an adequate supply of safe water. The technology is widely used in the region, and has been proven to be effective.

Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$0.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$555.00

Community Description
Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital, is the center of culture and development in Mongolia. With a population of 1,172,400 people, it is home to about 38% of the total population.

As Ulaanbaatar develops rapidly, the water quality is gradually worsening. Although the water quality in Ulaanbaatar is considered to be better than other parts of the nation, the water is under-treated and is contaminated with chemicals and facieses, and water born-illnesses, such as giardia, are common.

The project will be implemented at the Child Care and Development Center on the edge of Ulaanbaatar. The center is one of three state-run orphanages in Mongolia. The orphanage houses 120 youth ranging from 8 to 18 years old.

Project Description
This project is to purchase and install a water purification system to provide clean drinking water for the youth and staff who reside and work at the center.

The system will consist of one main high-efficiency purifier to serve the orphanage. The purifier carries a few gallons of water that is boiled and filtered. The filters are fairly priced, and the agency is able to resupply.

The purifier will be placed in the lobby next to the kitchen to ensure 24-hour accesses to clean water. Furthermore, the purifier serves cold and hot water, which is a plus, as Mongolians prefer hot water, believing it to deter illness and be better for the body.

Project Impact
This project will benefit 120 youth and 10 staff.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Esayas Wureta, Peace Corps Response Volunteer

Comments
Esayas previously completed the Arvikheer School Filter Project – Mongolia during his prior service as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

The center evaluated alternative technologies, and determined this to be the most appropriate for their needs. They have undertaken to provide service and maintenance, thus ensuring sustainability.

Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00

Dollar Amount Needed

$0.00 - This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Response Volunteer Esayas Wureta of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Esayas and/or those other PCVs in the country of service.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.

Community Description
The Executive Judgment 443rd Prison is located in Burentogtoh Village, Nuurstei District, approximately 20 km from Murun in Khuvsgul Province in northern Mongolia. The total population of Khuvsgul province is 130,000 and the population of Murun City is 40,000.

On average, the prison houses 90 prisoners at one time. The maximum capacity at any given time is 130. Prisoners, all male adults, come from the Khuvsgul province area. Additionally, 70 workers (male and female) staff the prison as guards, social workers, medical personnel, and administration.

Due to the remote location of the prison, a shallow well is the sole source of water for the prisoners and prison workers. The water from this well is sometimes yellow and salty in color. It is believed that intake of this water has caused gastrointestinal health problems in multiple residents.

Project Description
This project is to build 3 large slow sand filters at Executive Judgment 443rd Prison. These filters will help clean and filter the water before it is used for drinking and food preparation.

The filters will be made using water barrels purchased from the local market. Plastic piping will be constructed on the top and bottom of the filters in order to slow the process and not disturb the essential layer of bacteria. Layers of sand and gravel will fill a majority of the 200 L barrels and will act as additional filtration.

Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the barrels and piping for all 3 filters.

The sand and gravel will be collected in the community.

One local community member has volunteered to be lead engineer/teacher on the project. He will work with the prisoners to construct these filters. All work will be supervised by prison officials and Peace Corps Volunteers in coordination with the Khuvsgul Province Health Department.

Project Impact
97 men residing in the prison and 70 workers employed by the prison system will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Cody Villanueva

Comments
Providing clean water for the prisoners and staff will have an immediate health benefit. In addition, the project will teach a useful skill for the prisoners, with potential economic benefit.

Dollar Amount of Project
$225.50

Donations Collected to Date
$225.50

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Cody Villanueva of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Cody and/or those other PCVs in the country of service.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.

Community Description
Arkhangai Aimag is a 55,300 square-kilometer province located in the center of Mongolia, with a population numbering 89,311. The province (aimag), divided into 19 soums and 99 baghs, is well-recognized for its mixture of mountainous regions, fertile pastures, wooded hills, abundant natural waterways, and a relatively cool Mongolian climate in comparison to other provinces.

Unfortunately, despite the natural beauty of the province, 78% of the total population that live in soums and baghs, whose annual income primarily coming from raising and selling the meat and woolen textiles from livestock, still lack healthy resources. For this portion of the population, healthy food and sanitary water systems are virtually nonexistent.

The Central Hospital of the Arkhangai Aimag is located in Tsetserleg. Over 100 outpatients pass through the hospital each day. The hospital has an inpatient capacity of 85 and on average houses roughly 35 inpatients daily.

Project Description
This project is to purchase 2 quality water filters, and install them in critical and highly-frequented locations at the hospital.

The project will be implemented under the direction of the Arkhangai Health Department.

The first filter will be located in the recovery ward of the hospital. This will allow patients who are recovering from severe illnesses, surgery, or other issues, the best quality of water available.

The second filter will be located in the first floor waiting room, where a large number of patients pass through and spend time.

The ceramic filters contain elements that remove up to 99.99% of particles, cysts, parasites and pathogenic bacteria including e coli, cryptosporidium, giardia, and salmonella typhii. The silver-impregnated system also reduces chlorine, rust, sediment and organic chemicals.

Each filter will be able to process up to 24 gallons of water per day.

Each filter will purify a minimum of 6,000 gallons, depending on the source water. The carbon matrix interior provides additional support in removing chemicals like chlorine and other bad taste and odor elements.

The candles inside the filters need to be cleaned every 2 months and replaced every 2 years, at nominal cost.

Two trainings will take place to educate the hospital staff. The first will be to educate maintenance workers and nurses on the proper upkeep of the filters and the process for ordering new candles.

The second training will educate the doctors and nurses about the importance of clean/safe water.

Project Impact
36,500 people who pass through the hospital each year will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Tim Jenkins

Comments
Giving the inpatients and outpatients clean water to drink will drastically improve their health and quality of care. The trainings will give the project a sustainable outcome.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$25.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$475.00