"Yes we can!" That was the message that rang out from our just-finished seminars in Darkhan in north Mongolia. Mongolia is a country that for many decades - centuries even - has received the message, 'No you can't.' That message translated into a mentality that says in effect, 'No we can't,' and a culture of dependence on the outside world. That is what being a client state does to its population. You don't have to live here for very long before you realise just how heavily this sits on the people.
Setting up in business in such a context is a huge challenge for people here. But just as turning round the received message of the generations involves a change of mindset, so more and more people are rising to the challenge. Fourteen attended the Darkhan seminars, and eleven certificates were presented. That's eleven people with the vision, drive and acquired knowledge to make a difference. The seminars continued despite the first snow storm of the winter, which brought down power lines, cutting off electricity, water and heating across the city, resulting in some of the teaching having to be done by candlelight.
We look forward to seeing the results in the coming months as our seminar participants begin to act out the words, 'Yes we can!' or 'Тийм ээ, бид чадна!' as the saying goes in Mongolian.
Click here to enjoy our photo album of the visit!