dElder and Sister Nay asked us to try to find a project for Deseret International Charities (DIC) in Khovd. We worked with a community activist and she took us to several locations where products were made. These folks got enough funding through the Peace Corps to purchase the equipment to make certain things, like boots and felt products, but they were not given enough money to purchase materials. So each year, they would borrow enough money for their business at a pretty high interest rate, and then they would make just about enough each year to live on and pay back the loan. They never could get ahead far enough to purchase their materials and avoid the interest rate. The proposal was to provide funding for one year for mateirals so they could save the proceeds from the year to purchase materials for the next year.
This was the bootmaking shop we visited. It provided employment for six families. Materials for the boots were 55,000 tugs and the boots were sold for 75,000 tugs. Not much markup on these items.
The other business was felt making. This family moved their shop from town and put up their ger
down on the river where the water was abundant and it was green and cool. It was really fun visiting this place. They work hard to make the felt and then make different products from the felt like little animals, people, slippers, chair covers. etc. We had placed an order for several animals, but didn't get them before we left for home. This was a one-family business.
The project ended up not being funded because DIC funds more visible things and we were sad that we couldn't help them. They work so hard and barely make enough to get by, and can't save enough for materials for the coming year. But they are very happy people and seem to know how
to make due with what they have!
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