We traveled to the Songino Prison Hospital today. It is 45 km from the office but it took us an hour and a half to get there (and a lot longer to get home). This Prison Hospital is where they send the prisoners that have TB. They treat them for TB there and when the disease is gone or in remission the prisoners still stay there for 6 months to make sure they are disease free before they are sent back to a regular prison. We asked what happens to the prisoners whose sentence is up and they still have TB. They are either released to their family who can then take them to a government hospital or there are some other NGO's that have facilities for these patients.
The purpose of our trip was to check on the status of a project Deseret International Charities did with them almost a year ago. The project was to donate sewing machines, a washing machine, uv lights and carpentry equipment. This equipment was to be used to train the inmates in a skill such as sewing and carpentry and while doing so provide maintenance and upkeep on the buildings and generate some income. The Prison Hospital had kept putting off our visit because they had not made the room that they promised they would. The room was to be a shop and workroom that would house the donated equipment. We finally insisted that we needed to see the equipment and put DIC stickers on it. We wanted to see how the project had benefited the prisoners.
We were pleasantly surprised however. They have been using the equipment, just had not finished their shop. The explanation for not finishing the shop was that the government did not supply the promised money because a new government administration took over in June. Any way they have been using the woodworking equipment (saws, hammers etc) to do maintenance on buildings. They put a new roof on a building and fixed some windows. They have made some sanitation stations to be used in the prisoner housing. The have also been teaching wood carving and the prisoners have made some amazing items. ( pictured below)
The roof that the prisoners put on this building
Sanitation Stations built by the prisoners
Putting stickers on equipment donated by Deseret International Charities
Beautiful wood carving done by some of the inmates
Beautiful hand carved chess set
The sewing machines have been used in making prison uniforms for both the prisoners and staff. They have won an award for the design of the uniforms and will be making uniforms for other prisons which will help in the cost of running their prison.
Our translator Muugii putting stickers on equipment
We had to wear the protective gear to protect us from getting TB
The washing machine that was donated has been well used because there are 150 inmates here and each person can only do his laundry once every two weeks. The UV lights were to help with infection treatment?
In appreciation for what Deseret International Charities provided they presented Deseret with a beautiful thank you plaque and a hand carved Morin Khuur (horse head fiddle). We feel that even though it took awhile to get the results this was a great project.
The director of this facility and Elder Nay
Bayarbaatar was our main contact for this project. He is very caring and wants the inmates to be able to have a skill so when they are released they will be able to find a job and provide for their families.
Gerelmaa was also one of our contacts for this project. She is a very caring lady. One of the prisoners was down to only 40kg. She searched for his family (which is hard to do here in Mongolia). She found his children and made a video of them saying that they loved him. It gave him hope to carry on. She stays in contact with the family and updates the video for him.
Scripture of the week:Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
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