At a glance
- Learn directly from experienced social workers by shadowing and assisting them, and get an insight into the challenges they face.
- Gain experience working in centres for children with learning disabilities, public schools, or at a local NGO.
- You’ll be given many opportunities to take part in research work, help with campaigns or presentations, and to share your knowledge.
Start Dates:
Completely flexible dates
See DatesMinimum Duration:
Four Weeks
Age:
16 or over
You should have completed at least two years of social work related studies or training.
Is a Social Work internship in Mongolia right for me?
This Social Work internship in Mongolia is perfect for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge while helping others. To qualify for this internship, you need to have completed at least two years of completed social work studies.
You will gain invaluable experience while working with professional staff and qualified social workers. You’ll see the skills and techniques practised in a developing country. This will give your current knowledge a global perspective.
This internship will boost your CV and give you a deeper understanding of social work. You’ll also get a deeper insight into the challenges social workers face in developing countries. This will help you stand out in applications, and give you interesting points to talk about in interviews or essays.
This internship is available all year round, so you can join whenever it suits your schedule. You should stay for a minimum of four weeks, but we recommend staying longer to get the most out of your placement.
What will I do as a Social Work intern in Mongolia?
You will work in centres for children with learning disabilities, in public schools, or with local NGOs, under the supervision of a social worker. Your work will focus mainly on the following tasks:
- Gain social work experience in Mongolia by working alongside professionals
- Help run awareness campaigns, projects, or workshops
- Research, evaluate and offer solutions to the challenges facing your placement
Your work will be split into three areas:
Gain social work experience in Mongolia by working alongside professionals
You have the opportunity to apply your studies to real life cases, and learn directly from local social workers. This is also a chance to share what you’ve learnt from your studies with them, and see how or if it applies to Mongolia. You’ll observe as a social worker evaluates a child, or as they use art therapy to help people who suffer from depression.
Help run awareness campaigns, projects or workshops
One of your main roles at your Social Work placement in Mongolia is to be an extra pair of hands in daily activities. You’ll do this by running an anti-bullying programme at a school, or creating handbooks and education materials on art therapy to reduce stress.
You may also be asked to simply play with children, or help caregivers at your placement. We encourage you to take initiative, ask what needs to be done, and be helpful.
Research, evaluate, and offer solutions to the challenges facing your placement
Depending on your placement, you may be asked to undertake research during your time in Mongolia. This is the perfect opportunity to delve into topics you’re interested in. Speak to your supervisor and the Projects Abroad staff about what kind of research will benefit your placement. You can suggest topics focusing on children, adults, families, or how your placement can operate better.
Where in Mongolia will I work?
Ulaanbaatar
You will work in centres for children with learning disabilities, in public schools, or with local NGOs. The NGOs we work with can be further broken down into:
- A centre for education
- A centre against violence
- An art therapy association
All of these placements are in Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia is rich in culture and has a fascinating history. We encourage you to learn and experience as much as you can during your internship. During weekends and free time, we encourage you to explore and learn about the history and culture. We suggest learning about the famous Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, and visiting museums and nomad communities.
A typical day as a Social Work intern in Mongolia
You will start each day of your social work internship in Mongolia with your host family. You’ll eat breakfast with the family and get to know them. Dressed smartly, you’ll make your way to your placement.
Depending on how far your social work placement is, you’ll take a bus, walk, or use a trolleybus. Projects Abroad staff will show you how to use public transport and how to get around during your induction.
A typical day in Mongolia will run from Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
At your placement, you will have a supervisor who will guide your tasks. Depending on where you are, you can use the mornings to plan, or you’ll assist your supervisor. You may be asked to:
- Create workshops
- Put together presentations
- Help with awareness campaigns
- Set aside time for quality research tasks
Free time and weekends in Mongolia are yours! Plan to meet and learn more about nomad families, plan a trip to Terelj National Park, or visit the Gobi Desert. You can also explore local attractions in Ulaanbaatar with other volunteers or interns, or relax at your host family home.
What are the aims and impact of Social Work in Mongolia?
The aim of this project is to give you practical work experience, while providing staff with an extra pair of helping hands. You will also gain a deeper insight into how a developing country’s social work system works.
Mongolia may have shifted from communism to a more democratic system, but there are still social challenges facing citizens. These include:
- Poverty
- Domestic violence
- Alcoholism
- A lack of rights for women or children
- Human trafficking
Depending on where you work, you will be asked to research and evaluate the main social problems affecting children and people at your placement. For instance, if you work at public school, you will work on anti-bullying programs. These help provide children with a safe schooling environment.
Join our Social Work Internship in Ulaanbaatar and gain invaluable experience while helping us provide care to children who need it most.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Ulaanbaatar. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Mongolia and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Mongolia is one of the most remote countries in the world. Volunteering here is a chance to experience a completely different way of life.
Our projects are based in Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital. This city is an eclectic mix of modern and traditional. The Government Palace is a perfect example of this, with it’s old-world style architecture and glowing blue and gold lights.
Even when you’re in the city, you’re never far from the countryside. Just a quick trip can take you out to a nomad settlement, where you can meet travelling families who live in traditional gers. We recommend going on a horse ride or trek to take in the beauty of the endless countryside horizons.
The famous statue of Genghis Khan is a must-see. You can also learn about the country’s history at the National Museum of Mongolia.
We run a range of different projects in Mongolia so there will likely be other volunteers in the country with you. So you can travel alone or explore the country with a group of like-minded new friends.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Mongolia
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