Amilal means “blossom of life” – and is the title of a project to support schools in Inner Mongolia.

The inhabitants of Inner Mongolia traditionally are nomads and cattle-breeders with camels, cattle, horses, coats and sheep. In the eighties the nomads’ land was divided up and fenced in for individual families. Due to this the cattle stock of the farmers was reduced and their income remained on the same level for over twenty years – although the const of living rose in China at the same time to a multiple. As a result the real income of the cattle breeders was reduced strongly.

The city of Ordos is located in the southwest of Inner Mongolia in the North of the national territory of China. Because of a new Chinese law all schools with less than 300 pupils had to close – affecting especially the children of the cattle breeders in the rural areas of Tibet, East Turkistan and Inner Mongolia. As a consequence these children must go to large government schools, however many of the cattle breeder families cannot afford the school fees of 1,000 Yuan (approx. 100 Euro) per half year. Thus there are many children and teenagers who have to quit school or university and as a sole choice themselves engage in cattle breeding. This might however not be worthwhile as the whole industry will shrink on a long-term basis.

Together with the teachers and the director of the Ordos Mongul School pupils were identified, who would have to quit school despite the motivation to learn. At present 60 pupils are supported by subsidies to the school fees (teaching, books and accommodation), for children being in particular need we also finance the daily meals in addition. Outtrust member Urna Chahar-Tugchi regularly travels to Mongolia to supervise the use of donations and to evaluate further cases of hardship.