KDS
team(Executive Director, Hongmin Andrew Chun, Team manager of Sustainable
Development Team, Ya Ya Kim, and Program Officer, Hannah Park) visited
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to implement the “Eco-friendly Town Development Project
in Mongolia” from August 15 to 21, 2019. During the visit to Mongolia, KDS held
an awareness improvement workshop for the residents and conducted a Baseline/Endline
survey.
300
residents participated in each workshop held throughout 17 to 25, August and MCDS(Mongolian performance management
organization) carried on the workshop. KDS, National Renewable Energy Center(NREC),
and Nalaikh district office also gave presentations on sub-sections at the
workshop. The ‘Eco-friendly Town Development Project in Mongolia’, the concept
and benefits of renewable energy, and eco-friendly lifestyle were introduced at
each session. In particular, the project brought about corporation with local
government, as the Nalaikh district office introduced waste management and
planting project which has been conducted in the area as one of the
“Eco-Nalaikh” programs. This workshop not only delivered useful information but
also led a meaningful result that is residents’ active participation to discuss
and present an action plan on eco-friendly lifestyle by themselves.
Participants were able to realize that behavioral changes of individuals are
the key solution to solving environmental problems surrounding their families
and society and decided to practice what they learned.
To
this end, the district office and each khoroo decided to support the practice
of residents and discuss operating their own program for sustainable education.
In addition, a poster that was pre-made and distributed all around the district
is expected to play a key role in reminding the education to residents. On the
following day of the workshop, participants visited the project site and
increased their interests and understanding on the project by asking questions
on the use and production of renewable energy.
This
10th visit to Mongolia signifies that it improved the awareness and increased
interest through educational program on renewable energy and eco-friendly
lifestyle of residents who are the beneficiaries of the project. Also, it
raised the active participation of the recipient country government and main
stakeholders by making co-preparation and co-host for the workshop. KDS will
continue to provide educational materials and cooperate with local governments
so that the lessons learned from the project can be continued.
**KDS
will prepare a final performance report based on the results of the workshop,
the measurement of the awareness improvement about renewable energy, and the overall
performance of the project which will be announced to Mongolian stakeholders and
residents at the completion ceremony in October.