In This Issue:

Itgel’s 5th Anniversary field season has begun!

TCVC Project Updates

Making it possible...

Contact

The Itgel Foundation

info@Itgel.org

www.itgel.org

In Mongolia: 

The Itgel Foundation
Ulaanbaatar-211213
P.O. Box 2142
Mongolia

Telephone:
(976)11-310-296

Mobile:
(976)99-722-667

In the US:

The Itgel Foundation
1243 Arroyo Chico
Boulder, CO 80302

Telephone:
(303) 241-4411

Greetings from Mongolia

Itgel’s 5th Anniversary field season has begun!

2007 has already been a year of significant growth for The Itgel Foundation. Our budget has nearly doubled since last year, thanks to the incredibly generous support of grant-makers, sponsor organizations, and individual donors like you. Our team of staff and volunteers has also nearly doubled, with more than 20 individuals participating this year in our longest, most ambitious field season, which began on April 19th. With this growth in resources comes even more growth in our list of goals, and thus the need for continued support from people like you!

In particular, we are hoping to raise an additional $4,000 before August 1st to support a high-tech training program that will give urban and rural Mongolian health professionals the skills they need to effectively diagnose and mitigate infectious diseases throughout Mongolia. To make a contribution to support this exciting training program, scheduled for this fall, please click here.

We are also excited to announce the launch of the new “Access to Information & Cultural Documentation” project, which aims to create user-friendly multi-media toolkits that herders can utilize to make decisions about herd and range management, social and economic activities, and more. The project includes archival work designed to document threatened traditional knowledge held by community elders. To become a sponsor of this project, click here.

TCVC Blueprint

And of course most of you are now familiar with Itgel’s exciting Tsaatan Community & Visitors’ Center (TCVC) project, an initiative that continues to have unstoppable momentum! June 10th marked the official ground-breaking of the new and expanded TCVC facility. The facility will house an information center for visitors to learn about expectations and guidelines when visiting the Tsaatan reindeer-herding community, and will enable visitors to contract goods and services such as horses and local guides, allowing the Tsaatan to earn greatly-needed income. Adjacent to this room will be a designated classroom and meeting space for community members. Workshops on herder-requested topics have already started, helping give the community the skills needed to independently operate this exciting facility for generations to come.

TCVC Project Updates

TCVC receives financial support from USAID’s Economic Reform and Competitiveness Project (EPRC) for training workshops designed to empower Tsaatan herders to independently operate the TCVC. The first workshop occurred from June 23-25, and was facilitated by Mongolian NGO the Initiative for People Centered Conservation.

On Thursday, May 24th Itgel hosted a focus group in Ulaanbaatar for tour operators and other stakeholders to solicit input on how the TCVC can integrate the interests of tourism industry professionals with Tsaatan community members, and maximize benefits to both sides. If you are a tour operator in Mongolia, we invite you to join the growing number of TCVC-tour operator partners by contacting us at info@itgel.org.

Donor Rewards!

Congratulations to Molly Holmes and John and Suzanne Chuhinko who won Itgel’s raffle drawing to receive hand-crafted reindeer antler pens. These beautiful pens were generously donated by Itgel supporter Gordon Poest, author of the book “Raising Reindeer for Pleasure and Profit.” Contact Gordon at gjpoest@chartermi.net for products and info.

This month’s featured partners

	Go Lite www.golite.com
	Preferred Communications www.satstar.com

Thank you to each of you for being part of Itgel’s global network!