By Dirk 

Visit to the project in Bayankhongor

Today we visit the project for disabled children in Bayankhongor. Bayankhongor is the capital of the province of Bayankhongor, located in the south-west of Mongolia. This province is almost 4 times the size of the Netherlands and approximately 120,000 people live there, of which more than 80,000 live in this capital. So you can imagine how sparsely populated this province is. The project we are visiting today was built in 2010, the construction of which was financed with money that Dirk collected during his trip from Beijing to Paris in 2007. It is a project for mentally and physically handicapped children living in Bayankhongor or the surrounding area. It is the only project for disabled children in Mongolia. Approximately 50 disabled children are cared for and receive tailor-made daytime activities, depending on their disability. In addition, between 30 and 80 children receive extra support from regular education with reading, writing, speaking and improving their social interactions. There are 16 employees, including physiotherapists and a doctor. We are given a tour of the project and are deeply impressed by the work that is done here to give these children a dignified form of day care. The provincial government pays the salaries of the employees and the food that the children receive here every day. The maintenance of the building must be financed by the project itself and is paid from a contribution from the parents of the disabled children. It is a good feeling to see that after 14 years the project clearly meets a need. Due to the success of the project; As more and more disabled children are brought here by their parents, there is a need for expansion. This expansion must also be financed by the project itself and they are therefore looking for sponsorship to make this possible. Dirk says that he wants to see if he can contribute to this through his foundation. Among the children present is a blind boy who was also present at the opening in 2010. He has a beautiful voice and together with Dirk they sing a Mongolian song. Dirk hands over a check for $5,000 to the projectmanager, Mrs. Tsedevsuren, who has been committed to this project since 2001. Trudy hands over the garland with children’s dolls that students from the New School in Edam have made especially for this occasion. Tonight we are invited to a fun party together in a Karaoke bar. Those Mongolians can sing beautifully; it will be a pleasant end to this special day.