| How many kids does Lotus care for? |
| There are currently 125 children between the ages of 2 months and 19 years, but Lotus can care for up to 150 children at any one time. |
| How do children arrive at Lotus? |
| Economic trouble in Mongolia meant that for many years unwanted children were abandoned in rubbish bins or under stairwells, and Mongolian authorities would ask Lotus to care for the children. Other times police will pick up children that are living on the streets and bring them to the centre. Sometimes families will ask Lotus to care for their children, and in dire circumstances we will do this. Ultimately, our first aim is for the safety of the child. |
| Why is there a need for Lotus to exist? |
Surrounded by mountains, Ulaanbaatar has a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Following several harsh winters and difficult living conditions there has been a heavy rural migration to Ulaanbaatar, especially over the last 4-5 years. This has resulted in an ongoing, ‘urban sprawl’, with the ger districts expanding haphazardly every year. Mongolia’s GDP has been increasing over the last few years, largely due to an influx of foreign investment from international mining interests and some growth in Mongolia’s private sector. Despite this, there is a growing disparity of wealth distribution. Mongolia’s GDP per capita was reported as US$1,000 in 2007. 37% of Mongolians are classified as living under the poverty line of US$17 per day, with 20% of Mongolia’s GDP derived from international aid. Mongolia’s poverty problem is exacerbated by the long, harsh winters, as well as the high dependency on alcohol, namely vodka and the associated problems. Ulaanbaatar is home to the majority of Mongolia’s homeless children, estimated anywhere between 1,000 and 4,000 children, depending on the definition of ‘homeless’ children’ applied. |
| What kind of care is provided for the children? |
| Lotus employs around 50 staff. Around 10 children live with one ger mother, who looks after them during out of school hours. There is a medical centre located on the premises staffed by a full time doctor and nurse. The local hospital is 10 mins away. For serious ailments, Lotus children have had to seek treatment in Beijing, with medical costs covered by generous donors. |
| Does Lotus facilitate adoption? |
| One of the main aims of Lotus is family reunification. There have been many instances where improved family situations have led parents to return to the centre after many years to bring their children home. |
| When do children leave the centre? |
| Each childs path is unique. Like anywhere, it can be hard for young adults to get a fair start, especially without familial support. Lotus supports teenagers through allowing them to remain at Lotus while they are at university or starting work. Once they are able to support themselves they leave, but return for festivals like Tsagaan Tsar (New Year) and Children’s Day. |
| What kind of lives do they lead once they leave? |
| Lotus aims to give the children under its care sufficient education and guidance to lead healthy adult lives. Like every group of teenagers, each finds their own way in the world. Our kids go on to be employed as supermarket check out operators or translators for large mining companies. Some now have families of their own. |
| What is the future of the centre? |
With a large number of children still to be cared for, Lotus is looking for ways to best serve those children. With the support of the local and international community, a new facility is being built on the outskirts of town. Ulaanbaatar is now on its doorstep, and it is time for Lotus to move out of the city and the problems that the city brings. For more information about this project, please see www.mcaf.mn. It will also be necessary to provide a strong foundation of employable skills. We have started a café already in UB, and will continue with other vocational programs. |
| What kind of support is there from the broader Mongolian community? |
| The Mongolian authorities support Lotus through food vouchers that are given to all primary schools, but there is no support for other operational activities. We do receive some support from local companies. Many individual Mongolians sacrifice their time to give us support with the children through interaction, advice and support. |
| What are the main operating costs? |
| The main overheads for Lotus are food, staff wages and coal. In 2009 it will cost roughly $USD 30,000 each month to provide care and education for Lotus children. |
| Where do the donors of Lotus come from? |
| Lotus operates through donations from institutions, individuals, and some government support. Around 85% of our children have sponsors who contribute monthly. |
| What is the best way to help? |
| It costs around USD$90 per month to provide care for each Lotus child. There is a section on the website that outlines the various ways in which people can help Lotus raise these children. One of the simplest, yet most effective ways is a contribution to our operating costs. The reality is that financial assistance on a regular basis to support our day to day operations is the best way to help raise these children. We rely immensely on the generosity of kind hearted people who are often strangers. |
| Will my package get to you? |
| Most mail does get through to Mongolia. Please take into account however that while goods reach us, the large shipments can get charged by customs (but not always!). While the value of the goods may be low, there have still been instances where we have been charged up to 90% of that value. A positive net benefit to Lotus might be to sell the goods locally and donate the money raised. |
