Mudgee volunteer explores Mongolia
How does a student of environmental management and geology find common ground with the nomadic people of Mongolia?
As an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD), Sally Mayberry drew on her experience on her family’s mixed farm near Mudgee to break the ice.
Pictures of her father’s cows were a talking point for rural people whose lives revolve heavily around livestock.
Although Sally was based in Ulan Bator, her work through the AYAD program with the World Bank’s Sustainable Livelihood project took her across the “vast and amazing” landscape from the steppes to the Gobi Desert.
Because of her farming background, Sally was placed in an agricultural-based position, working to help rural Mongolian people to continue their centuries-old lifestyle in the face of changes including increasing urbanization, the encroachment of mining and challenges to their traditional clan-based system of land ownership.
Although families may have occupied their land for hundreds of years, they hold no formal title, which leads to dispute when others move in.
Sally found an open, independent people, with a culture based around horses, goats, sheep and camels.
Family groups move around their land, or “ger”, with the seasons in a form of rotational grazing.
Temperatures in Mongolia range from -40 in winter to 40 degrees in summer.
“There are very distinct cultural differences, from what they eat to how they live,” Sally said.
To be immersed in another culture was something that I have wanted to do.
“Nothing is wasted. In winter, they eat the older animals, keeping the meat outside.
“In summer, they will only eat dairy products. It is not a country for the lactose intolerant.”
With milk in plentiful supply, the summer diet includes yoghurt, cheese, and dried curd. A slightly alcoholic fermented horse milk called airag is drunk by everyone from babies to old people.
“Sometimes they have so much milk that they bathe in it to relieve eczema,” Sally said.
As well as the language barrier, Sally had to overcome cultural differences and expectations of her.
However, she was pleased to find women are highly regarded in Mongolia and that women head many major companies.
Although Sally has travelled extensively, she said Mongolia was different from any of her previous experiences.
“To be immersed in another culture was something that I have wanted to do,” she said.
“To me, coming from an Australian farm to one of the last functional nomadic societies was fascinating.”
Sally hopes that her experience will inspire others to apply to become an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development.
Around 400 Australians each year work in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa, in areas ranging from health, to disability, education, governance, law, community development, communications and trades.
The ambassadors are part of Australia’s aid program, working with local development and non-government organisations to encourage development and reduce poverty.
Participants come from a wide range of fields, with their skills matched to the most suitable projects.
Sally said Mudgee and district people had many skills – from butchery to practical farm knowledge – which could be applied in Mongolia and other areas.
“I just want people in Mudgee to know that this is available and not expensive,” she said.
The AYAD program is open to people aged from 18 to 30 years.
People interested in the program can find out more on www.ayad.com.au or watch for the advertising for the next intake of Ambassadors from February 27.
As an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD), Sally Mayberry drew on her experience on her family’s mixed farm near Mudgee to break the ice.
Pictures of her father’s cows were a talking point for rural people whose lives revolve heavily around livestock.
Although Sally was based in Ulan Bator, her work through the AYAD program with the World Bank’s Sustainable Livelihood project took her across the “vast and amazing” landscape from the steppes to the Gobi Desert.
Because of her farming background, Sally was placed in an agricultural-based position, working to help rural Mongolian people to continue their centuries-old lifestyle in the face of changes including increasing urbanization, the encroachment of mining and challenges to their traditional clan-based system of land ownership.
Although families may have occupied their land for hundreds of years, they hold no formal title, which leads to dispute when others move in.
Sally found an open, independent people, with a culture based around horses, goats, sheep and camels.
Family groups move around their land, or “ger”, with the seasons in a form of rotational grazing.
Temperatures in Mongolia range from -40 in winter to 40 degrees in summer.
“There are very distinct cultural differences, from what they eat to how they live,” Sally said.
To be immersed in another culture was something that I have wanted to do.
“Nothing is wasted. In winter, they eat the older animals, keeping the meat outside.
“In summer, they will only eat dairy products. It is not a country for the lactose intolerant.”
With milk in plentiful supply, the summer diet includes yoghurt, cheese, and dried curd. A slightly alcoholic fermented horse milk called airag is drunk by everyone from babies to old people.
“Sometimes they have so much milk that they bathe in it to relieve eczema,” Sally said.
As well as the language barrier, Sally had to overcome cultural differences and expectations of her.
However, she was pleased to find women are highly regarded in Mongolia and that women head many major companies.
Although Sally has travelled extensively, she said Mongolia was different from any of her previous experiences.
“To be immersed in another culture was something that I have wanted to do,” she said.
“To me, coming from an Australian farm to one of the last functional nomadic societies was fascinating.”
Sally hopes that her experience will inspire others to apply to become an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development.
Around 400 Australians each year work in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa, in areas ranging from health, to disability, education, governance, law, community development, communications and trades.
The ambassadors are part of Australia’s aid program, working with local development and non-government organisations to encourage development and reduce poverty.
Participants come from a wide range of fields, with their skills matched to the most suitable projects.
Sally said Mudgee and district people had many skills – from butchery to practical farm knowledge – which could be applied in Mongolia and other areas.
“I just want people in Mudgee to know that this is available and not expensive,” she said.
The AYAD program is open to people aged from 18 to 30 years.
People interested in the program can find out more on www.ayad.com.au or watch for the advertising for the next intake of Ambassadors from February 27.
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