Didi does the work of many women, as she continually fundraises for new projects, and in efforts to meet the Lotus Centre's ongoing costs. She also acts in the role of director and general manager of the Children's Centre. In addition, she has an incredibly good understanding of each child and makes a point to know all the children personally, to recognize their needs and to work toward securing their well-being.

Didi Ananda Kalika (born Gabrielle Dowling in Mulwala, Australia) came to Ulaanbaatar in 1993. As a nun with Ananda Marga, she came to teach yoga and meditation and to become involved with the local community. The philosophy of Ananda Marga is self-realization and service to humanity.

Vikashini (also named Boloroo) is a full time employee who manages all of the daily activities. Grocery shopping, handling budgets and wages, and ensuring there are enough clothes and school supplies for all of the children all fall under her umbrella. Vikashini lives at the Lotus Centre, and can often be seen attending parent-teacher interviews at the community schools, and sometimes drives the morning and afternoon bus transporting our kindergarten children to and from the main house. Vikashni is from Yarmag and has been with the centre for four years.

Nandita (also named Nomin) is also a full time employee and works very closely with Vikashni. She is extremely dedicated and puts in long hours. Nandita also works at the Lotus Playroom at the Police Identifacation Centre in Ulaan Baatar.

Arjunios has been involved with the Lotus Children's Centre since it's opening, and although he is currently working in the Gobi Desert mines, he always visits us when he returns and is a great help in organizing repairs and construction on new buildings. Here he is being Santa Claus at our 2002 New Year celebration.

Although Vijaya now has a new baby at home, she assists Didi with administration work, such as visas, driving registrations, and some legal documents and contracts. She also assists with answering some emails and other computer work.

Ishbel is a VSO volunteer from Scotland, who originally started working at Lotus three years ago. She worked for two years, setting up the kindergarten and training staff, and then went back to Scotland for a year. Fortunately for us, she couldn't stay away from the Centre and returned to her cabin in Yarmag this October, 2002. She will be planning for our new primary school, developing curriculum and using her creative talents. We tease her that she'll probably stay in Mongolia forever…and she never protests!

Krista is also a VSO volunteer, who comes from Canada. She's been working with the Centre since June 2002, and hopes to have a small social work staff set up to take her place when she leaves. She is doing work with the children as well as with the community, and really enjoys the atmosphere and energy of Lotus. There is definitely never a dull moment!

Welcome to the newest members of the Lotus team. Tom Dyer, from Australia, is a volunteer who is working on streamlining our managment structure. He's currently assisting with getting funding for our new school.

Chantsalnyam (Chuggie) is our new Volunteer Co-ordinator. She has worked with Lotus Centre before as a caregiver for our children and is now back in a new capacity, helping us bring in more volunteers.

The Lotus Children's Centre staffs another twenty-five to thirty people at any one time. We have two cooks, one for the main house, and one for the soup kitchen. There are two people who keep the fires in the winter, and a driver to manage our vehicle. We also have a nurse on staff full time, and a doctor part time to attend to any health needs of the children. There are approximately ten to fifteen "house-mothers" who live with the children and provide their daily care. In addition, the kindergarten employs a staff of ten to fifteen people.