Your Best Info Source for Peace Corps Mongolia

Welcome to your best source of information for Peace Corps Mongolia! If you’re considering volunteering in Mongolia, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you more about the history of the Peace Corps in Mongolia and explore Mongolia as a nation. You’ll learn about the languages spoken in the country and hear about other volunteers experiences. You can find more information about safety and health issues here too. And we’ll tell you how to connect with returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who served in Mongolia. Get ready to find out more about information to help you decide if serving in Mongolia is right for you.

Volunteers in Mongolia work with their communities on locally prioritized projects in Education (ED) sectors. Cohorts usually leave in May.

Mongolian woman preparing traditional milk tea over a stove in a ger, surrounded by attentive family members, preserving cultural traditions and shared moments of warmth and togetherness

What is the History of Peace Corps Mongolia?

The first Peace Corps Mongolia volunteers arrived in 1991. This was when Mongolia was transitioning to a democratic system after the end of the Soviet era. The Mongolian government welcomed international help to support its development initiatives. From the beginning, Peace Corps volunteers engaged in community development projects. They concentrated on education, health, agriculture, and small business development.

Over the years, the Peace Corps program in Mongolia evolved to meet the changing needs of the country. Volunteers continued to contribute their expertise and skills to various projects. These included English language teaching, health promotion, and community-based economic development.

Throughout its history, Peace Corps Mongolia has played a significant role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations. This contributed to Mongolia’s development and leaving a positive impact on local communities. Since 1991, more than 1,500 volunteers have served there.

World map indicating the location of Mongolia - a landlocked country in East Asia, nestled between China and Russia

What about Mongolia as a nation?

Mongolia is a landlocked nation located in East Asia, bordered by Russia and China. It has vast landscapes, including the Gobi Desert and the rugged Mongolian steppes. Mongolia has a rich history. It is famous for being the birthplace of Genghis Khan in the 13th century. The country has a population of approximately 3 million people. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the largest city.

Mongolia is known for its nomadic herding traditions. A significant part of the population still practice a semi-nomadic or nomadic lifestyle. Traditional Mongolian culture, including music, art, and the sport of wrestling, continues to be an important part of the country’s identity.

Economically, Mongolia has significant mineral resources, including coal, copper, gold, and uranium. These play a crucial role in its economy. But, the country faces challenges in diversifying its economy and reducing its dependence on these resources.

In recent years, Mongolia has seen efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions and promote economic development. It has sought to expand its international relations. The government has also made efforts to preserve Mongolia’s unique environment and wildlife.

Overall, Mongolia is a nation with a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and a growing economy. It continues to face both opportunities and challenges as it navigates its path toward development and sustainable growth.

What languages do they speak in Mongolia?

The official language of Mongolia is Mongolian. Mongolian is the native language of the majority of the population. Mongolians use the Cyrillic alphabet, which was adopted in Mongolia in the 1940s under Soviet influence. However, the traditional Mongolian script is still used in cultural and historical texts. Besides Mongolian, there are also several minority languages spoken in Mongolia, including Kazakh.

How safe is it serve as a volunteer in Mongolia?

In general, 87% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in Mongolia. And 90% felt safe or very safe where they worked. 7% of volunteers early terminated mostly due to resignation and medical reasons. But more detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the Mongolia Crime, Harassment, and Early Termination of Service Data.

Most of the medical problems seen in Mongolia are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Mongolia because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses.

The medical problems specific to Mongolia are colds, flu, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, dental problems, sexually transmitted infections, Hepatitis A, B, rabies, air pollution, and possible altitude sickness. Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease-producing microorganisms. But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps Mongolia can be found in the Mongolia Health and Medical Care Summary.

An older Peace Corps volunteer embraced by her warm and expansive Mongolian host family, embodying cross-cultural connection, kinship, and intergenerational bonds.

Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia joyfully engaging with small children in a classroom, fostering learning, cultural exchange, and the spirit of service.

What do volunteers think of serving in Mongolia?

Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019, 86% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 89% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 83% of Mongolia volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the Mongolia Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.

Where can I learn more about Peace Corps Mongolia volunteer experiences?

PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in Mongolia. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.

Blog and YouTube Channel Links:

The national flag of Mongolia, featuring a vibrant red background with a centered blue emblem of a vertical stripe and traditional Mongolian symbols.

If you’re interested in learning more about serving in Mongolia, I’ve got you covered! Click here to see all of my posts about Peace Corps Mongolia with details on the experience, culture, food, and more.

Peace Corps volunteers in Mongolia spreading joy and teamwork through a soccer camp in the heart of the community

How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in Mongolia?

Friends of Mongolia (FOM) is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and developmental purposes. Our mission is to develop partnerships with the people of Mongolia in furtherance of cultural exchange and human development. In fulfillment of this mission, our membership and fundraising supports the core programs that contribute to the future of Mongolia.

And where can I find official information about Peace Corps Mongolia?

"Peace Corps Mongolia Welcomes You" book cover - 2017

This is an old PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Mongolia“, published in 2013. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about Mongolia. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.

Conclusion:

This blog post has provided you with information to help you decide if serving in Mongolia is right for you. You have gained insights into the cultural, linguistic, and developmental aspects of the country. We have also touched on the safety considerations and health-related information relevant to volunteers. And, you learned how to connect with returned Peace Corps Volunteers. For more information about Peace Corps Mongolia, you can visit the Peace Corps website or explore the provided resources. We hope this post has been helpful in your quest for information on Peace Corps Mongolia.

Mongolia-World map by Addicted04 file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.