Many households are now headed by women, who are the poorest members of society. We are committed to supporting these women and their families to achieve sustainable livelihoods, working closely with community leaders, to provide access to education, skills training and family support.
Feltmaking
MIM (Made in Mongolia) is a non profit initiative established to create employment for women and to provide wider support for their communities. 330 women were trained by the MIM Project in sewing, embroidery and felt making in Ulaanbaatar and Underschil in the Gobi Desert.
With financial support from the Irish Government and from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Asral NGO was able to purchase and equip a designated space in the city centre to house the felt making and sewing project.
20 women are now employed full-time by MIM in Ulaanbaatar and Underschil An online shop was set up recently and the felt items are being exported internationally. It is said that the felt products being created at MIM are the highest quality in Mongolia.
Gachuurt
Up to 30 families are trained annually in organic vegetable growing at our training centre in Gachuurt. Seeds sent from Ireland, and tools, equipment, and material for polytunnels are provided. A well was dug with funds raised in Ireland to support the project and a permanent greenhouse built to help give the young seeds a head start. A full time trainer is employed to run the project.
After discussion with the local Governor, school and hospital, Asral NGO received funds from Ireland to build a greenhouse for a vegetable growing project, aimed specially for children. The Governor agreed to provide land and Asral will work with the school and hospital staff to develop this project, aimed at providing a sustainable supply of fresh organic vegetables.
536 kilos of seed potatoes was distributed in May.
- 28 families received 22 kilos of seed potatoes
- 8 families and disabled persons received tools
- 3 families received water trolleys.
In the Autumn, participants harvested salad greens, peppers and squash, as well as:
- 2.6 tons of potatoes
- 70 kg of cabbages
- 75 kg of carrots
- 110 kg of cucumber
- 20 kg of onions
- 30 kg of turnip