December 2002 

This summer, for the month of August, three of my fellow classmates and I took a trip to Mongolia in Asia. One my classmates, a friend who had been living in Mongolia for three years before he began school at Maxwell International Baha'i School in Shawnigan Lake. Because he knew the community and felt that Mongolia was his true home, he helped organize the trip. 

I arrived in Mongolia at the beginning of August not knowing what to expect. I had heard stories of the nomadic Mongol invasions in the Post- Classical Era in school, but I had no idea of what modern Mongols did, or even looked like. Soon, we settled in and when it was time to leave, I couldn't tear myself away. 

Our trip was characterized as a social-economic development project supported by the Baha'is of Mongolia. We traveled around southern Mongolia and the tip of the Gobi desert to remote communities. We taught children's classes, English lessons, had youth meetings and participated in community projects. 

We were introduced to the Mongolian Development Center (MDC) while on the trip. During our travels, we met a woman who had participated in environmental seminars teaching how to grow vegetables in this seemingly barren land. Although Mongolia is below 40*C about 80% of the year, environmental projects have taught how to cultivate the land. This is an example of a social and economic development project that has been very successful. Another project that could be likewise useful and successful in this country is the construction of small turbines, which are relatively easy and inexpensive to make. 

Maxwell built a number of model turbines. One of the models has been sent to the MDC. Although I physically left Mongolia, my spirit is still there. Hopefully these turbines can help with development in the county and the Mongolians will know how much our thoughts are with them. 

- Makini Boothe, student at Maxwell International Baha'i School
 

Maxwell classmates: Makini Boothe, Leeva Sheidaee, Sam Toloui, "Some Guy" 


Bagnur English class 


Makini's English class