November 10, 2025
News
After twenty years of work, Caritas Czech Republic has handed over its project documentation to the National Archives of Mongolia. With this step, Caritas officially concludes its activities in the country, which began in 2006 and included 21 projects focused on humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
The materials handed over by Caritas comprised a total of 99 boxes, containing 503 paper files and more than 1,350 digital records documenting the outcomes of 21 projects in areas such as education, human rights, social protection, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental protection and innovation. All documents have been placed in the National Archives under the new file number 180, which will be available to the public as well as to researchers.
Photo: Handover of materials to the National Archives of Mongolia
Support in extreme conditions and systemic changes
The first project implemented in Mongolia by Caritas Czech Republic in 2006 focused on social protection. One year later, a local office was established in Ulaanbaatar, and our activities expanded, from mobile clinics in remote areas and food assistance for herders to youth education programmes and the creation of rules for managing construction waste.
In recent years, we have focused on ecological projects and environmental protection. For example, the project “Sustainable Recycling of Plastic in Mongolia” led to the adoption of nationwide regulations for plastic recycling. This was a crucial step in the fight against illegal waste management.
Our work was not only about addressing immediate needs, but its purpose was also to build long-term change,
explained J. Dejidmaa, interim representative of Caritas Czech Republic in Mongolia.
We trained more than a thousand entrepreneurs in environmentally friendly production practices across multiple provinces. This has created a model of responsible behaviour that can serve as inspiration for others,
she added.
Caritas also played an active role in developing civil society and strengthening youth competencies. Through the project “All for YOUth, YOUth for All”, we helped young Mongolians with their personal development, offering advice for career planning and career development. In a country where young people make up more than a third of the population, many young Mongolians were experiencing unemployment. Among the supported activities was, for example, a shared workshop for furniture production. Another project supported around 50 young volunteers who promoted sustainable plastic recycling and helped prepare an event to mark Earth Day.
Photo: Volunteers were an integral part of Caritas Czech Republic in Mongolia
Legacy that will endure
None of these collaborations and achievements would have been possible without our partners, donors, employees, volunteers, supporters, and above all, the people of Mongolia, who trusted in our ability to bring about change. From the very first project to the last, they motivated us and were the heart of our work.
Saying goodbye was not easy. At the same time, I feel deep gratitude and pride for having been part of nearly two decades of effort during which we succeeded in contributing to the improvement of local people’s lives. We achieved positive changes in education, healthcare, and sustainable development. I am glad that our work in Mongolia will have a long-term impact,
said Hana Klimanová from Caritas Czech Republic, who had the responsibility of coordinating projects in Mongolia over the past two years.
Now that our journey in Mongolia officially comes to an end, we are not saying goodbye, we are saying thank you. Together, we have laid foundations that will continue to bring results and serve the people of Mongolia.
