Peace Winds Japan
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Photo credits:
PWJ, The Mainichi Newspapers,
Japan International Cooperation Agency

Special appreciation to volunteer translators:
Noriko Inaba, Natsuko Tokai, Mike Nix

Message from the Chairperson
The Role of NGOs
Iraq
Mongolia
Indonesia
East Timor
Sierra Leone
Afghanistan
Iran
Activities in Japan
Major Activities in FY2003
Organizational Time Line
Organizational Structure
Financial Statement for FY2003

PWJ English Top
Mongolia

Mongolia is facing serious growth in its urban poor, due to the concentration of the unemployed population in large cities. There is special concern for the children of such underprivileged families, many of whom are living on the street, and not attending school.

To address this problem, PWJ's work in Mongolia emphasizes aid for children. In Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, PWJ operates two "Khot Ail" (pronounced hátail) facilities to offer shelter and care for children. The two Khot Ails are now home to approximately 40 children, all of whom are street children or children from poor families. Here, resident children are provided with food, clothing, shelter, and education.



In April 2003, PWJ also launched its Day Care Center Project specifically for street children in Ulaanbaatar.The Day Care Center provides lunch, a shower, laundry facilities, and counseling services to any child that stops by. This program, even in its first year, succeeded in helping a number of children return to their homes or to obtain jobs.

Non-formal education classes are held in Mongolia's third largest city, Erdenet. In Mongolia, in order for dropout students to return to school, supplementary education is mandatory. However, there are not enough classes in Erdenet, creating a gap for PWJ to fill. PWJ operates three classes, including one which was newly opened in September, mainly for the children of poor families living in the suburbs.

However, despite all efforts, confronting poverty is complex and difficult. Despite its positive
accomplishments, the Day Care Center was only able to assist street children in their life on the streets, and it proved difficult to gain the understanding of neighboring residents. As a result, PWJ has temporarily closed the center as of January 2004, hoping to re-open the facility based on further investigation and research. PWJ is also facing a dilemma because its activities in cities do not prevent the influx of poor people from rural areas that creates the growth of the urban poor. In the future, PWJ is considering combining its urban support activities with reinforced measures against poverty in rural areas.

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