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SAVE THE CHILDREN The Mongol Rally is supporting another amazing charity Save the Children in Mongolia, in Short:- A third of Mongolian children live in poverty, exacerbated by the country's harsh winters. The first two years of this century have seen some of the harshest winters on record following on from very dry summers – over two million livestock died, farming was devastated and homeless people's lives were threatened. A few of the many ways S.T.C. is working in Mongolia:- Many homeless children find accommodation in several shelters supported by Save the Children. In the capital, Ulaanbaator, we run a drop-in service centre that offers children a hot meal, clean clothing and washing facilities. Staff and guest speakers at these centres, such as doctors, talk to the children about first aid and reproductive health. If children need medical treatment, staff take them to a local doctor or to the hospital. Staff are also developing a certificate that can serve as a temporary identity document for street children, enabling them to get access to health services in the future. In Mongolia's harsh economic climate, a growing number of children are finding themselves homeless, or are having to work for a living. As a result, they face greater exposure to illness and injury. They often risk injury from dangerous work, poor living conditions and gang violence. Children are also exposed to sexually transmitted diseases - especially girls working in the sex industry. Many children are unaware of the risks, and often don't even realise they are ill. Even if they recognise symptoms, it's often impossible to get professional help. Many of them are not officially registered, or have lost proof of identity. Without it, they can't get free health cover, and hospitals are reluctant to treat them because they won't get paid. Save the Children UK is helping to tackle these problems by teaching vulnerable children how to protect themselves and get help if they become ill. As part of a life skills training package for street and working children, Save the Children have produced education materials that show children how to identify the symptoms of illnesses, and what to do about them. The materials - which include card games - are often used at public places such as markets, where many children work as porters or petty traders. A team of social workers is also training children to take the message about healthy living to their peers. So far, over 4,000 children and adults have taken part in health education training programmes across Mongolia. The age 3 to 7 years old is a critical period in a child's educational and social development. As primary school in Mongolia only starts at the age of 8, preschool education is vital. Only a third of Mongolian children currently have access to preschool education. Save the Children UK has established new kindergartens for areas where children have been excluded from education. There are many other projects run by Save the Children in Mongolia have a look at their website for a bit more info: www.savethechildren.org.uk - the Uk website www.savethechildren.mn - the Mongolia website To donate please go to www.savethechildren.org.uk Registered charity no. 213890

Many thanks for your support! We raised well in excess of £5,000 for our very worthwhile charities and we could not have done it without your support!