COUNTRY NAME: MONGOLIA

Project Name

Ulaanbaatar Program Area

Location

Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia

Habitat affiliated/entity

Ulaanbaatar

Number of families

So far Ulaanbaatar program area has helped more than 412 families with building and renovating their houses in the different areas.

Housing needs

According to the conducted poverty housing survey, at least 750 simple and decent houses and about 150 house renovations are needed to be build in many different parts of Ulaanbaatar program area for next 3 years.

Partners and supporters

World Vision, Vision Fund, Christian churches, local government offices,

House design used

Foundation

The foundation trench is dug by hand to a depth depending on the soil conditions. The trench is 400mm wide and provides bearing for the exterior walls, porch, brick stove and the outside edges of the floor. Above ground level, a form of 5cm x 15cm boards is constructed. The form is leveled using a hosepipe as a water level and a chalk line to make a level line. Small nails can be started on the chalk line in order to clearly mark the correct level. The concrete is mixed either by hand or small cement mixer and is placed in the trenches and forms. Digging the foundation trenches and constructing the form will take 1 day for a small crew. Mixing and placing the concrete will also take 1 day’s work of a crew of 6-10 people. The foundation will need to cure for at least 3 days before further work can take place.

Floor

A rectangle is squared and chalk lined on top of the concrete walls exactly 5350mm by 6550mm and a 50 X 150 board nailed on the flat into the concrete on the inside of the lines. A strip of tarpaper should be placed between this board and the concrete before being nailed down. Then 50 X 150 joists are placed on edge with a rim joist around the outside. Brick columns support the joist’s center span. The joists are spaced on 55 cm centers and have small battens nailed flush with the lower edges. Sheets of Styrofoam insulation are split in half and laid on the battens in between the joists. 150 X 30 boards are then nailed on top of the joists.

Walls

The wall is a wooden frame with a layer of brick on the outside. The frame is constructed from 150 x 50 vertical studs on 55 cm centers with one plate on the bottom and two on the top. The walls are framed the same size as the floor and have a poly vapor barrier on the inside covered by sheets of gypsum board. On the outside 150 x 30 diagonal braces are nailed and two layers of Styrofoam insulation is installed in the wall cavity before the brick exterior is applied. Extra studs need to be installed at the joints on the gypsum board.

Ceiling

The ceiling is insulated with two layers of Styrofoam installed between the bottom members of the trusses. Blocking supports the Styrofoam and diagonal braces are nailed to the tops of the bottom members of the trusses. The underside of the ceiling is covered with a plastic vapor barrier before gypsum board sheets are nailed up. The ceiling will take half a day.

Roof

The roof is a straight gable from side to side using trusses. The connecting porch has a shed roof extending up the gable end. The rafters are 5cm x 15cm boards on 105cm centers with ceiling joists of the same material. A center vertical web is connects the ridge to the bottom member. The roof is then strapped with 3cm x 15cm boards on 500mm centers. The overhangs extend 30cm all around and have fascia boards. On top of this frame a corrugated concrete roofing tile 1m x 1.7 m is fixed. The tiles overlap at the sides and top and are fixed with nails and rubber washers. The brick chimney is flashed with sheet metal. Framing the roof will take one days and half a day to finish the roofing tiles.

Windows

The two front windows are 1.2m high x 1.5m wide and the side window is 1.2m high x 1m wide. They are made from wood and have 1 opening section in each window. The windows are double glazed with 4mm glass. Each window is fixed with screws into the wooden wall and the joint stuffed with insulation material.

Doors

The exterior doors are all wooden six panel doors. The interior door is a hardboard covered wooden frame that can be insulated if necessary. All doors are cased and dead bolt locks are provided on exterior doors. Two skilled workers can install the windows and doors in half a day.

Stove and Chimney

The actual stove and firebox is a rectangular metal box with removable rings to allow cooking and an exhaust vent horizontally at the rear. The chimney is a hollow brick wall approximately 1.8m long by 35cm wide and 1.8m tall. Inside this box, there is a winding flue that culminates in the vertical chimney that exits through the roof. The exhaust vent of the metal stove sticks into the hollow brick wall of the chimney and causes the exhaust gasses to wind through the flue. The heat in the exhaust gasses heats the brick, which in turn stores and radiates heat over a long period. This type of stove has been proven effective and in very common in Mongolia and Siberia. Building the brick chimney will take a bricklayer and a helper 2 days.

Electrical

The houses all have electricity. One light is each room is provided and at least one plug. There are two circuits (one for lights and one for plugs) and wiring on the walls is run in conduit. One person can do the electrical work in one day.

Finishing

Baseboard and crown molding is provided as it hides the joint between the gypsum board on the ceiling and walls. The base and crown are both 5cm x 3cm planed wood. Linoleum is provided for the floors and wall paper for the walls, ceiling and trim. Two people could finish the trim and linoleum in one day and the wallpaper will take a small crew 3 days.

Toilet Facilities

In common with all Mongolian houses the Habitat houses will have outside pit toilets.

House design

Typical volunteer task

Volunteers will mostly be involved in carpentry and masonry work, however, if needed they can help decorating inside houses such as painting, gluing wallpapers, installing window frames, doors, gypsum board, covering wall with fiberglass etc. One the main tasks of volunteers can develop friendship with home partners.

Preferred team size

12-15 members

Hosting months

6 months May to October

Hosting duration

10 days.

Cost estimate/day/person (budget in US$)

40 to 45 USD per day per person

Transportation

Taxi, bus, and microbuses. For the safety of GV team members, we recommend to take taxi to travel in the city. To a construction site a microbus is provided.

Accommodation

Hotel price is between 20$ to 25 $.per person . Also, cheaper guest houses are available at the cost of 15$-20$ per person/day.

Meals

Varieties of foods are available in Mongolia such as Chinese, Korean, Russian, Italian, Mexican , Indian, Greek, and European etc. Cost would be approx 10 to 15 USD per day per person.

Other options available*

What you can choose: Local sightseeing options.

§ Visit historical Buddhist temples

§ Visit Zaisan Russian, Mongolia Friendship Monument

§ Visit Winter House of the last Mongol Khaan

§ Visit the National History Museum

§ Visit Gobi Cashmere Factory

§ Trek through the Mountains /River

§ Stay in a Tourist Ger camp

§ Ride horses (or even camels)

§ Try a night in the traditional Mongolian Ger (Nomadic living)

§ Visit Herder’s Ger

What you can choose:Cultural and community options

§ Visit an orphanage or school to meet the children

§ Visit National and Dance Ensemble where you can enjoy

wonders of long and short folk song, performance on the traditional musical

instruments, khuumii (throat) singing, well-wishing and eulogies and see the

miracle of folk dances and so on.

§ Visit Zaisan Hill where you can see the city from one end to the other.

§ Build with local youth group or church members

§ Attend Sunday service at a local church

What you can expect: Global village educational activities

§ In-country orientation

§ Welcome dinner

§ Construction and safety orientation at the worksite

§ Building activities: mix and pour cement, lay bricks, pass buckets of earth and cement, painting, nailing and sawing

§ Visit an area of poverty housing in the city

§ Visit a completed Habitat house

§ Fellowship time with Habitat homeowners

§ Sharing session with the affiliate staff

§ House Dedication for completed houses

Farewell dinner

Recreation options

1. Karakorum Expeditions Mongolia

Email: info@GoMongolia.com

Website: www.GoMongolia.com

2. New Milestone Tours

Email: newmilestone@mongol.net

Website: www.newmilestonetour.com

3. Tseren tour

Email: tserentours@cs.com

Website: www.tserentours.com

Sample itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Day 1, Arrival day
11:15 am	Arrive in Ulaanbaatar Transfer to Guest House or Hotel HFH Mongolia welcome orientation	GVC PM
Day 2
08.00 am 08.30 am 09.00 am 11.00 am 11.20 am 13.00 pm 14.00 pm 15.30 pm 16.00 pm 16.30 pm	Breakfast Go to worksite Construction and safety orientation (20 min) and build Tea break Build Lunch (at the site) Build Tea break Build Get in the vehicle and go to the hotel	PM CS
Day 3
08.00 am 10.00 am 11.00 am 13.00 pm 14.00 pm 17.30 pm	Breakfast Site seeing-Zaisan hill* Sukhbaatar square-main square Lunch Shopping Go to the National Song & Dance Ensemble “Tumen Ekh”*	BK
Day 4
08.00 am 08.30 am 09.00 am 11.00 am 11.20 am 13.00 pm 14.00 pm 15.00 pm 16.00 pm 17.30 pm	Breakfast Go to worksite 5 minute work orientation and build Tea break Build Lunch (at the site) Build Tea break Get in the vehicle and visit poverty housing area Free evening	SW CS
Day 5
08.00 am 08.30 am 09.00 am 11.00 am 11.20 am 13.00 pm 14.00 pm 15.00 pm 16.30 pm	Breakfast Go to worksite 5 minute work orientation/build Tea break Build Lunch (at the site) Build Fellowship time with home partners and affiliate staff Get in the vehicle and go to the hotel/guest house	PM CS
Day 6
08.00 am 08.30 am	Breakfast Go to the camp - Stay at GER - Ride horses - Visit the surrounding area - Visit herder’s family - Bonfire ! R and R day plan would be developed by a tour provider.
Day 7 Departure for R and R
09.00 am 10.00 am	Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and check in hotel/guest house Visit internet café and fill the evaluations in Farewell party/presenting certification of appreciation Depart	GVC PM

The National Song and Dance Ensemble “Tumen Ekh”.

The ensemble gives its performances in the premises like the yurt palace of ancient Mongolian Khans, without any microphone or technical support. You will listen to the wonders of long and short folk song, performance on the traditional musical instruments, khuumii (throat) singing, well-wishing and eulogies and see the miracle of folk dances, shaman dance, contortion and religious mask dance.

Zaisan hill- you can see Ulaanbaatar from one end to the other. You will enjoy seeing beautiful natural scene and some monument for the friendship for Russian and Mongolia, Buddha monument and so on.

Camp plan and Naadam day would be separately developed by a tour provider.

Memo