Lamp of the Path NGO

At the collapse of communism in 1990 Mongolia followed the rest of the communist nations from a centrally controlled economy to a market economy. This lead to a great deal of hardship as thousands lost their source of income. As people fled the rural areas where they were no longer able to make a living as nomadic herders, many of those moving to the cities found themselves unequipped to find not only employment but even the more basic needs of food and shelter. This has lead to a large population of homeless and very poor who are old, mentally or physically impaired or of single parent families. To help support these homeless and vulnerable people Lamp of the Path was established to take over the social welfare activities of FPMT Mongolia in 2005. Its activities are centred at Dolma Ling Community Centre located in the “Ger District” of Amgalan on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.

Soup Kitchen

The soup kitchen was established in 2003 to provide the most basic necessities for Ulaanbaatar’s poor and homeless. Since then it has been serving a hot meal to between 50 and 80 homeless and poor 5 days a week. As well as food we also provide warm clothing, footwear and bedding in the freezing winters when temperatures drop to below minus 30 Celsius. When possible we also provide gers (the traditional round felt tent) to accommodate homeless families including the basic furniture of coal stove for heating and kitchen furniture. Because of age and disability many of the  beneficiaries of the soup kitchen are eligible for small government grants. However most do not have the required paper work or knowledge of the system to obtain these benefits so during the last 6 years we have assisted over 100 people to access the support for which they are eligible. While the amount is small, currently about $US60 per month, for most it is their only source of income so has made a huge difference to their survival.

Health Clinic

The Health Clinic was established in 2006 to provide basic health care and information to the guests of the soup kitchen. It was staffed by a Mongolian Doctor and in 2008 a Nurse was employed to assist her. As well as free medical consultation the patients are also supplied with free medicines when required. If the patient has needs which our clinic is unable to fill, such as broken bones and serious disease and illness, they are referred to one of the several hospitals with which we have a contract for the care of the homeless. Because of the stigma attached to the homeless it not always easy to get this care even with contracts. Every 2 weeks the Doctor and Nurse provide trainings on various topics related to healthy living, disease prevention and general hygiene. As part of disease prevention we have recently built a hot shower for the use of the homeless. The clinic has over 400 people who are registered to use the facility.

Children’s Development Program

Children’s Development Program: It is a primary understanding the future belongs to today’s children. This is recognised by Lamp of the Path and in 2006 we opened a program to develop moral values and self esteem in children. In 2008 the curriculum was developed to incorporate the 16 Guidelines to a Happy Life, a program developed by FPMT in the west. As there is insufficient  places in schools the daily schedule allows for 3 shifts with some attending early in the morning, middle of the day and in the late afternoon. Those not at school attend the children’s program at the community centre. The program is also offered in local kindergartens and orphanage. It is divided into 3 levels, beginners, advanced and kids club. Having reached the kids club the children are encouraged to offer service to the local community following programs they devise themselves. The program is also offered in Mongolia’s second largest city, Darkhan. We are now developing a course which will train teachers in government schools to include the 16 Guidelines in everyday classes. During the summer school holidays we offer 2 week programs in a variety of subjects which ranges from how to make a movie to bead making to English and Chinese language lessons. Throughout the year other activities are provided to support the 16 Guidelines, such as competitions on international “Be Kind Day”, and to broaden the youth’s horizons trips to such places as museums and ski fields. During each gathering the children are offered nutritious food, which they are taught to prepare themselves, to supplement the sometimes meagre supplies available in many homes.

The Tailors’ Cooperative

In 2006 Lamp of the Path NGO developed a program to train women in the art of tailoring so they would be able to clothe their families and earn extra income. This program targeted single parent families in the local area.

During a review in 2008, it was discovered that simply learning the art of tailoring did not provide a sustainable income. They needed to learn the essential skills of marketing and selling the products. Therefore, the training changed to include those skills and build a complete business model.

As the business developed, the cooperative become financially self-sufficient from selling products locally and internationally. The only assistance Lamp of the Path NGO is now providing is the payment of rent for the building where the business is conducted.

Some time ago, we received a matching grant from a kind benefactor, for the express purpose to purchase a building for the Cooperative.

	I also think if you, as a Buddhist organization, were eventually able to do more in the area of social service, in the fields of education, health and counseling for the resolution of family and community problems, it would be of great benefit. This would not mean teaching the Buddhadharma, but simply using the techniques or messages of the Buddhadharma to try to solve problems through social service for the welfare of society. It would not be done as a Buddhist or Dharma activity, but simply to service and benefit humanity.
–His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Click here to view the Soup Kitchen Photos

FPMT has established FPMT Mongolia as a designated purpose fund, which with the support of generous benefactors, supports the work of FPMT's affiliate in Mongolia. All donations made to the fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.