La Mission de Joie Dream School

Mongolia  - the Social problem: The  Impoverished Families Living in the “Ger” District & Countryside:

In Mongolia, most of the people are “Climate refugees” who live in the “Ger” districts or ghetto as we would call it, in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the coldest capital of the world.    The most recent extended drought in Mongolia lasted from 2000 to 2010 and resulted in major livestock die-offs and a massive migration of nomadic herders to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Displaced from the Mongolian steppe without any skills but herding, most now live on the outskirts of the city in the impoverished “Ger" district (urban city).

In Mongolia, public education is free. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that the main obstacle standing in the way of an education for the children living in the Ger District is a long walk to the nearest school and that they are shunned by their peers. Many live without running water and basic necessities that we take for granted.  Maintaining good hygiene is challenging and public transport is not as easily accessible. When and if they arrive at school, often the children then have to endure bullying by their more affluent peers.
Alcoholism is rife. Poverty leads to alcoholism, depression, and fractured families with single parenting by young mothers being a common problem in the area. Most struggle to find employment without proper training or skills, in very difficult circumstances in the coldest capital of the world- Ulaanbaatar.

•    An astonishing 70% of the population in Ulanbaatar, live in GER areas outside of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, and the unemployment rate is over 30%. 
•    Approx. 2/3 of the population is <30 years old and 36% is <14 years old. 
•    50-55% of the population live in the countryside
•    29.6% of the population live below the national poverty line in Mongolia. (ADB Bank Report)

The future of Mongolia is in the youth and in the “Ger” districts in the outskirts of the city.
An example of a typical Mongolian "Ger", similar to a Yurt, and a glimpse of the inside of a Ger which is heated by coal.  Very simple furnishings and no running hot water; designed for the traditional nomadic lifestyle.

The JOY Training Centers are "Dream Rooms" in Ulaanbaatar & Countryside and have a highly creative flexible classroom design to inspire creativity and the imagination

                Joy Training Center Dream Room and Nailakh Country Side Vision Rooms in Mongolia

Mongolia: How Will La Mission de Joie 
Answer to the Call?  

La Mission de Joie Established JOY Training Centers in Mongolia October 1st 2018 (Dream Manifestation Schools) 

Student's surprise Joy with and song in dedication
Khaliun, Mentor & Translator to the Right of Joy above
Puje, Our Teacher at Joy Training Center featured above
  • La Mission de Joie launched its initial two locations in Mongolia in October 2018 in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia serving the “Ger” areas (urban city) and the countryside
  • The training centers operate under the name of Joy Training Center in Mongoliaoffering a mentorship program daily which teaches a highly creative personal development curriculum.
  •  Our mentorship program helps our students visualize and realize their goals and dreams.
  • Each class is taught in a flexible artistic classroomstyle that promotes creativity and imagination to help motivate and inspire; i.e. acrylic white board walls, blackboard walls to write on, felt board walls to hang their dream boards, & projects. 50% of the time in each class is dedicated to a highly creative participatory workshop for the students to engage their imagination and maximize their learning experience through extremely innovative exercises that are fun and expanding for the students. 
  • Joy Training Center Program Curriculum:We teach a 7 course Curriculum that coincide with the school semesters. Classes are taught 5 days per week. 
  • Learning Center:A learning center is part of JOY Training Center which includes computer, printer, wifi for the students to come and study, do homework, and be mentored.
  • Snacks & Special Celebration Parties:JOY Training Center provides after-school snacks & refreshments for the students and also hosts special holiday and celebration parties for the students as well as all school supplies free of charge.
  • Teachers:Each class is taught by 2 teachers/mentors (Staff of JOY Training Center) and also visiting volunteer mentor teachers occasionally drop in to teach a class offering a particular subject of expertise to teach the students.  Joy also personally comes to Mongolia to teach classes for months at a time (usually the fall and spring semesters).
  • Joy Training Center “In high school” Teaching Programs:1-2 days per week, our classes are taught directly in the “Ger” high schools in order to expand our reach and facilitate logistics for our students.
  •  A Summer Camp Programis offered to our students as an extension of our program.
  • JOY Training Center Program Cost:There is no cost for students to attend or participate in the JOY Training Center program or any of the activities hosted by the training center. Everything is provided free of charge to the students.
  •  Note:The Target Age group of the students is 12-16 Years old since this is the critical age that the students are at risk of dropping out of school in Mongolia and are in dire need of paving their roadmap for success.Exceptions are made to this (as we review the needs of specific students’ situations).
  • Some of the courses & workshops taught include the following:  
    o        Visualization Tools & Goal Setting
    o    Career Development
    o    Self Empowerment & Accountability
    o    Positive Psychology/Positive Thinking
    o    Effective Communication & Self Confidence
    o    The Power of Gratitude
    o    ESL
    o    Yoga

 Piloting the Mission de Joie Mentorship Program in Mongolia  during July/August  2017 Summer Camp             for 150 Impoverished Children

La Mission De Joie launched its first summer camp in July & August 2017 in the beautiful Mongolian countryside.  It was a 5-week program teaching 150 impoverished Mongolian kids the full personal development curriculum every day including daily yoga and other fun activities. A group of 30 Dutch high school exchange students also participated in this program which greatly enriched the experience and program for both the Mongolian and Dutch kids equally.

Mongolia: How Can YOU Help?

  • You can serve as a volunteer. We graciously welcome volunteers at our school!  Ask for details! We are looking for teachers or mentors that can help mentor our students at our training centers! Please let us know what you can offer. We are most grateful for your generous support in any way you can offer it!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!
  •  You can provide sponsorship/donations.  All of your funds will go directly to the children and families; we can advise you how your funds are being applied.
  •  You can provide clothes, medication, shoes, books, school supplies; or anything that you can think of!
  • Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for your generosity and best wishes!!!!
Amar Batbayar, owner of Zaya Guesthouse, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Volunteers regularly at JOY Training Center, and refers his guests to volunteer and mentor at our training center while they are visiting Mongolia, in their area of expertise

Some of the lessons & Workshops taught by
    La Mission de Joie/   
Joy Training Center

  • Some of the courses & workshops taught include the following: 
    •    Visualization Tools & Goal Setting
    •    Career Development
    •    Self Empowerment & Accountability
    •    Positive Psychology/Positive Thinking
    •    Effective Communication & Self Confidence
    •    The Power of Gratitude
    •    ESL
    •    Yoga
Students dress up as their "future selves" during the "Imagination Workshop" themed as the "2029 Joy Training Center Alumni Reunion Party"     (All career costumes and props provided by La Mission de Joie)
"Imagination Game Workshop" with Students from the Visiting Ger High School we teach in

Mongolian Countryside  Students learned the power of GRATITUDE with the Garbage Bag Workshop!

One of the students’ most favorite workshops was “The Garbage bag” Workshop, which made our Nalaikh students realize that you can make anything happen if you set your mind to it! They have much greater appreciation for everything, after successfully creating beautiful clothes out of garbage bags during a contest that we made. This is one of the most important lessons that we teach at JOY Training Center. They voluntarily clean their dishes themselves, and decorate the classroom on holidays from scraps. It was amazing to see the transformation in the students and the gratitude and appreciation from the beginning of the semester to the end!
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