Schoenstatt, that’s like traveling around the world without leaving the place

Four members of the Mongolian Youth Development Foundation, participating in the Youth Expert Exchange Program sponsored by the Otto Benecke Foundation, spend a few weeks in Schoenstatt

Stand con artesanía de Mongolia Stand con handicraft from Mongolia Stand mit handgearbeiteten Souvenirs aus der Mongolei
Artesanía Handicraft Llaveros
Artesanía Handicraft Schmuckdose
En el jardín de Sonnenau, su lugar preferido In the garden of House Sonnenau, their favorite place In der Laube im Garten der Sonnenau Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Gantugs Dashjargal, Tsedev Dondov, Oyungerel Osor, and Ankhbayar Bazarvaani – they are probably more familiar with Schoenstatt, than the readers of this article will be with their names. The three young women and one young man from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, have found a "home away from home" at House Sonnenau in Schoenstatt during their stay in Germany, and in the context of the Youth Expert Exchange Program sponsored by the Otto Benecke Foundation.

During the weeks they spend in Germany, they will: visit social organizations, youth assistance institutions, and youth networks, learn about German culture, the state, and current challenges for young people. "When we come back to our House Sonnenau in Schoenstatt, we feel that we’ve come home," says Gantugs Dashjargal, the only one fluent in English. She translates for the other three, who eagerly agree: "It’s just peace and quiet, a place to relax." The lush flourishing green flora and natural beauty of the place are what Oyungerel Osor emphasizes, "We walk a lot in our free time here, it’s so relaxing after the many impressions and the impact of a totally different culture." - "And it is at the same time more international than we ever dreamed possible of finding such a place in Germany," says Gantugs Dashjargal. "It’s like traveling around the world without leaving the place. Throughout these days we have met people from Spain, from USA, Mexico, – we loved them! Paraguay, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Germany, and now there is a totally joyful group from Brazil! The whole world is here!" Gantugs Dashjargal is Buddhist, like her companions. She senses a spirit of religion in the air here in Schoenstatt and is glad for this. One day, the group met with Sr. Doria Schlickmann to learn about Schoenstatt.

Diana Franke-Meyer, who has been in Mongolia four times already, in the context of the Youth Expert Exchange Program, accompanies the group. In searching for a house pretty near the center of the scheduled activities, where the group could stay during the entire time, she found Schoenstatt. "I knew the houses here, as I often come from Hillscheid, where I live, to bike ride here; and I pass along almost each day on my way to and from work. But I had no idea what was inside," she admits, glad to have found a place where the four young people feel welcome and all right. "We only have one problem here, the food is too good," Gantugs Dashjargal laughs.

For the youth of our country

They are evaluating the many impressions they have taken in so far in Germany. Networking in youth work, studying how youth organizations work together for the best of youth, learning about structure, aims and efficiency, and reflecting how to implement the ideas they have learned about here to Mongolia, a country in transition to market economy at a quick – for many a too quick – pace: that’s the challenge they face. The situations of the two countries are different, state care and the strong state support of NGO’s is a new experience. Despite the differences, there are ideas they can take home; among those ranking high on their list are Koblenz plays taking place this May 17^th, with the inner city of Koblenz being transformed into a giant playground. "That is something we can imagine for Ulaanbaator!" Open centers for young people, training for volunteers, mobile social workers, or the social competence training as offered in House Wasserburg by the Pallottines – all that can be adapted to the situation in Mongolia, they share. They are excited with the invitation to the International Week at the Koblenz University of Adapted Sciences, and their meeting with Prof. Friesenhahn.

But they also proudly share what they do. The Mongolian Youth Development Foundation (MYDF) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with a major emphasis on providing youth development programs in Mongolia and working to assist Mongolian youth in their development into active members of society by providing social, educational, cultural, and physical activities. The MYDF works in cooperation with the Mongolian government and other Mongolian NGOs as well as with foreign governmental and non-governmental organizations for the welfare of Mongolia's children and youth. The MYDF is run by a combination of permanent staff and volunteers. The majority of the staff is between 21 and 28 years old. By involving young people in the decision-making process of their activities, they want to ensure that the MYDF addresses the issues that are most important to Mongolia's youth. A project they especially want to share is G-Craft, Girls’ Craft – a workshop program for girls at risk for prostitution or leaving prostitution. The girls learn how to make souvenirs out of easily available raw material – particularly wool - and get basic education in how to sell and administer their small business; a way to improve girls’ self-esteem and help them find ways into a future without prostitution, abuse, and poverty.

Mongolian Night in Schoenstatt

Tuesday night, May 13^th, at House Sonnenau, there will be a "Mongolian Night," with a slide show, songs, sharing, and an opportunity to support the Girls’ Program of MYDF by buying some of the souvenirs and handicrafts that were brought along all the way from Ulaanbaator… that means, if there is anything still left. The Brazilean pigrims fell so much in love with the handicrafts that they keep buying and buying!

• Mongolian Youth Development Foundation www.mydf.org.mn
• G-Craft www.mongolcraft.com
• Otto-Benecke-Stiftung www.obs-ev.de