Can You Help?

1 - Gek and Lotus Products

Gek was well pleased with the helpful suggestions and advise she received from fellow volunteers. Some of the ideas have already been discussed with the Lotus Centre director, Didi.

2- Life Skills

A small group had a chance to go through the Peace Corp publications on life skills workshop guides. These were found to be excellent and very practical to use. If you would like a copy of the 12 books on CD please contact David at david.whitworth1@btinternet.com. Thanks to Hazel for bringing these to our attention.

3- Mongolian Management

It was clear pretty early in the discussion that there is no golden bullet to harness the "no plan" Mongolian approach to project implementation. The search goes on!!!!

Seeking Solutions - Accommodation

Objective: Find Solutions to UB Accommodation Problems

Outcome : Acceptable, workable accommodation policy for UB placements

Rent issues

Because of accommodation rent rises,

• Poorly funded partners cannot afford rent rises
• Differences in standards of accommodation are being experienced
  

It was clear that these issues only relate to accommodation in UB.

Solutions

• Volunteers to share accommodation
• Accommodation sought in outlying areas of UB
• Use Ger accommodation

Relate issues

All Placement documentations for UB should mention sharing accommodation with another volunteer. Placement documentation should ask whether volunteers are willing to share with opposite sex or staying in a ger.

• Ideally accommodation should be allocated before end of ICT, so that vols can settle and start work promptly
  
• PO encourage partners to pair up over accommodation arrangements. Pairing should happen after vols have been accepted to be able to match same sex/age etc.
• For short term volunteers the PO will continue to provide shared accommodation e.g a VSO rented flat

Follow up action : Inform VSO London of the new accommodation reality for volunteers in UB

Action by : Alison

Monitoring Evaluation.

Objective: Promote cross programme area working, Facilitated Volunteer to programme office working

Outcome : Improved placement management support documentation

The conference was fortunate to have attending Paul Wooster who is responsible for Secure Livelihoods and Monitoring and Evaluation in VSO Manila.

Four separate session were held on various aspects of the information flow in VSO Mongolia.

1. Programme area review documentation
2. Information gathering
   
3. Partnership review and planning documentation
4. New partner evaluation and needs analysis documentation

The session proved productive in recommending amendments and additions to the existing information systems for monitoring and evaluating VSO volunteer placements and partners in Mongolia. From Paul we learned that M & E processes are being developed in all VSO Programme Offices worldwide. The fruits of our deliberations will by felt by us all as the Programme Office incorporates appropriate recommendations into their information gathering systems.

Follow up action : Revise the management documents and information flow for VSO Mongolia.

Action by : Alison

Disability Workshops

Objective: Raise Awareness of the disability issues in Mongolia

Outcome : A handbook to promote main streaming disability in all placements

The two linked disability workshops gave the opportunity for awareness raising amongst volunteers on disability issues and the opportunity then to make suggestions on how the Disability Handbook could be enhanced. The first session included three contributions from Mongolian associations working in different areas of support for the disabled in the country.

From the response to the second session, the points were well made by our guest speakers. The suggestions made by the conference are to be considered and some of them will be incorporated into the Handbook .

Our thanks are due to............... for giving of their time to prepare and deliver the briefing sessions.

Follow up action : Edit the Handbook and distribute.

Action by : David and Lindsey

Conference Over

The Venue. All to ourselves.

The weather was excellent allowing out door sessions.

And meals, although it was too hot on this day.

Over the next blogs the conference outcomes will be posted, one conference session. If you have anything to add or contest, please use the comment option at the bottom of each post. Ta.

Security on the Streets

(Contributions from, Alison, Mary, Maarten, Joe and David.)

The Bump.

The Targets

Mostly your pockets or to cut a bag strap.

Modus Operandi.

This can involve up to four individuals working together. First you know, you are being sandwiched between two guys. This distracts you and gets them in close. Favored places to bump are crowded areas, narrow doorways/passages but can be effected in the open at the kerbside when you stop or hesitate in crossing the road. These thefts are usually targeted, ie the thief has seen an opportunity you have presented to him.

See It Coming,

1. Be alert in likely black spots. State Store, Post Office, Black Market, Tourist Street, on busses, stair ways, and bus stops.
2. In smart places, be aware of people who look out of place.
3. Be suspicious if someone is staring at you but don’t not be distracted.
4. In the open, watch your shadow if it falls in front of you. Seeing a shadow next to yours, move to the side and if your new friend follows, then be alert. If two shadows follow, turn round and shout…. Loudly.!!!!!

Reduce the Risk

• Use only two strap bags, such as a small rucksack, using both straps.
• Do not show where you keep your stuff.

1. don’t answer the phone and put it back in your pocket
2. don’t take out money and put it back in your pocket.
3. have money in you hand for the bus fare/shop purchase etc.
4. if someone warns you about pick pockets, don’t check your pockets.
5. make sure your pockets don’t bulge, expect if you want they to!!!.
6. wear a body belt under your cloths for large amounts of money.
7. keep money in your brae, up your sleeve or top of your socks.

Stings

If they are intent on robbing you, try to make sure they get nothing,

1. Put a bulge in your trousers. Something like a packet of tissues, large kerchief or toilet roll tube. Looks like a wallet from the outside!!!
2. Safety pin the pocket with valuables. No defense against a razor cutting the pocket though.
3. Have your phone and keys on a cord attached to your cloths. Not your wallet, your friends might talk!!!

The Dip

The Targets

Hand bags and back packs.

Modus Operandi

Usually, a lone thief and the theft is achieved by stealth from behind. More often than not these thefts seem to be opportunistic. The thief is dipping your bag on the off chance.

See It Coming,

Be alert in likely black spots. State Store, Post Office, Black Market, Tourist Street, stair ways, on busses and bus stops

In the open, watch your shadow if it falls in front of you. Seeing a shadow next to yours, move to the side and if your new friend follows, then be alert. If two shadows follow, turn round and shout…. Loudly.!!!!!

Reduce the Risk

• Use only two strap bags, such as a small rucksack, using both straps.
• Wear the rucksack in front of you with both straps in use.
• Tie the zip pulls together on the pockets.

Stings

If they are intent on robbing you, try to make sure they get nothing,

• Leave one pocket slightly open with perhaps a bottle of water sticking out, giving them a target.

To bring list.

The timetable for the conference has been sent to you by email. First up is the reception at the Ambassador's Residence, Tuesday evening. 18:15 at VSO office to walk to the compound.

1. Beer/wine/water/soft drinks – Particularly wine if that is you tipple.
2. Nibbles – crisps, crystalised dried fruit, Pringles etc.
3. Torch – There is very little or no light after dark. Only the stars and moon.
4. Towel – Hand towel supplied by the camp.
5. Insect repellent – Not sure if the insect army is awake yet. Best be prepared.
6. Toilet paper – you never know when……….!!!!
7. Home comforts – There is no shop near so bring chocolate, favourite drink, biscuits, etc. No night raids on the camp kitchen as happened at Harbourne Hall!!!!!

If you can bring some,

• Balls of all sizes, for football, volley ball, basket ball, golf.
• DVD’s of recent films – to show at conference or swap
• Cards – for cannaster, bridge, snap
• Board games – chess, draughts, back gammon
• Soduku grids – for a competition.
• Musical instruments you can play – guitar, trumpet. Nice to hear live music.
• Bow and arrows – archer competition.
• Good books – lots of places to sit on your own and read a good book but also the conference is a good book swap opportunity.
• Any thing else that comes to mind

We can organise impromptu competitions, depending on your mood, one on one or SL v Health AND Education.