UN Mongolia staff donates books and toys to Magic Land-2

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. UN Mongolia staff represented by the UNRCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNDP colleagues visited the ‘Magic Land -2’ Survivor Protection Centre to deliver the UN staff donations of books and toys on November 27. They were greeted by the managers Ch.Ganjavkhlan and U.Ganbayar who have explained about the project's progress and have shown the premises. The project, purely relying on people's, communities' and companies' donations and volunteers' support has managed to raise MNT 2 billion. The Magic Landers have very recently finalized the exterior works of the building that will host survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence and disadvantaged children, as well as create opportunities for employment and skills learning for their parents. A Magic Garden and two green houses were also built on the territory of 0.7 hectares of land purchased by the ML2 from the city. With its enabling environment and accessible infrastructure, the ML2 welcomes children with disabilities. The Centre will also offer dance, yoga and arts classes for children. For the 1st time ever in the remote ger area, the ML2 set up a coffee shop with a library next to it. The building is emission-free due to using gas for heating. The project still needs some MNT300 million for interior construction and polishing and additional for operational costs. The managers and volunteers of the ML2 explored various creative ways of fund-raising and reported at the Open Days about every tugrug spent. In cooperation with Khan Bank the ML2 opened an opportunity for account holders to spare MNT100 per day as donations to cover operations costs. Currently they have 6000 such donors. However, the need is for about 19 thousand more. One of the highlights of the Open Day was the exhibition Parallel Worlds displaying photos, installations, and objects from every day live of struggling and disadvantaged people and families in each one of which there are suffering children. Source: UN Mongolia