Mongolia Update – July 2005

In September 2004, Selenge Tserendash had to close the Center due to rising costs and funding problems (Japanese funds were diverted to help earthquake victims).  A small group of women continued making bags, aprons, and tablemats to sell and these have proved popular.  In December, donations from a couple of generous individuals and funds from St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Christian Outreach Commission amounted to $4,000, which we sent to Mongolia.  Selenge was able to re-open the Mongolian Quilting Center in the basement of a block of apartments.  She decorated and installed air conditioning, creating a new Quilting Center.  Two women were employed to teach and make items to sell to help sustain the Center.  They also offered childcare for women who come to take quilting classes and use the facilities.

In January, the German Development Agency sponsored Selenge and an assistant to travel to Khovd in Western Mongolia to teach for a week.  Selenge also came to US and stayed with me for two weeks in February.  During that time I gave her quilting instruction, introduced her to several quilters and their quilts, and we participated in the Kitsap Quilters’ Guild show.  We raised enough funds from the sale of aprons and bags to cover the cost of Selenge’s expenses.  With the help of St. Barnabas Church, we continued to raise funds for the Center by selling these items and we collected donations for chances on a large Ölzii quilt.  The quilt was pieced in Mongolia, by Selenge and women at the Mongolian Quilting Center, using ger (Mongolian yurt) fabric for the background.  Selenge brought the quilt top here with her and Wanda Rains machine quilted it with beautiful patterns copied from embroidery by Kazak women in Western Mongolia.  The drawing was held at the end of May and in June we were able to send another $3,000 to Selenge to help with the running costs of the Center.