4368(I)_New Frontiers of Mongolia

Don Bosco Youth Development Center – Khutuul, Selenge province

May 2, 2017

By Fr. Simon Lee, SDB
Vice-rector Darkhan

Khutuul, Mongolia, 2 May 2017 -- Two years after the starting of a humble Don Bosco Development center in Khutuul, near Darkhan, the Salesians are meeting again with the mayor of the town to discuss future plans for this new outreach.

Khutuul is a vibrant town of 10.000 population majority of young families, with quite consistent local industry (cement factory) and wheat agriculture zone. The local schools are not enough to accommodate all children and young people, 3 kindergartens and the only high school are overcrowded due to lack of space.

The present newly elected mayor of Khutuul in her first meeting with Fr. Paul Leung, Delegate of Mongolia share with proud the giftedness of the local youth (sports like taekwondo, arts and music). There is lack of free time activity venues for children and youth. Since the previous town administration, there is constant interest for more stable Salesian presence in the town. Former mayor went to meet the Rector Major to Darkhan in October 2017 asking to send more Salesians to start another community in Khutuul. A new mayor met today with our small delegation from Darkhan Don Bosco (3 SDB and 2 Salesian Cooperators) and confirmed a keen and firm interest of the civil authorities in our ministry.

As of now Don Bosco Youth Development Center is a very humble space for English study, Library and Counselling for the children in one small apartment. Some 1200 children are registered as DB Center members. One NGO was started by the Salesian Cooperators of Darkhan, who are in charge of running the program, about 60 km distance (40 minutes drive, by taxi 2 USD fee). Until now this is the only similar facility in this youth-full town of Khutuul.

We pray for the wisdom, courage and human resource in starting another Don Bosco presence in the Land of Blue Sky.