Wednesday 2nd September
Visiting Local Kindergarten
Ven. Rinpoche paid a visit to the local district kindergarten. Currently they are looking after 636
children even though their capacity for catering is for up to 330 children only. There is currently a
huge problem with the lack of kindergartens in Ulanbaataar city, and also almost 70% of the
children are not getting access to a kindergarten education. There are around 14 different classes
in this kindergarten and some of the classes have up to 60 children in one classroom. Asral
provides family support, clothes, stationery, school equipment, a winter play area, sanitation and
renovated classrooms for the most vulnerable children. There are two districts affiliated with this
kindergarten. There are a few students who needs to travel as far as 8km. These children are the
ones who live on the hills of the Ger District or in the Shanty town. There is no public transport
available for them at the moment. Most of the children are now quite healthy. Asral is the only
private organisation who really helps this kindergarten for many years, and the director appreciates
their support a lot. She also said that Asral not only supports us financially, but also spiritually as
well. She thanked Ven. Rinpoche on behalf of all the staff and the children at this Kindergarten.
Asral actively support 15 of the most vulnerable children in this Kindergarten. These children did a
beautiful performance of dancing and songs for Ven. Rinpoche. Rinpoche suggested to the
director of the school that we can offer them a workshop every month for their staff about how to
educate and look after children more effectively with more care. She was very happy to accept it
and also requested if Asral can organise the workshop in the kindergarten. Ueli Minder (a board
member of Asral) kindly accepted to offer them the workshop once a month. He then distributed
the gifts for each of these children, including stationery, toiletries and sweets. The director then
gave a tour of the kindergarten and then requested to give blessings to all the staff of the school
and to many of the children in the kindergarten.
