2025 January
The first two weeks of January, 10 people traveled to Mongolia. For half of them, it was their first time. From the board of our foundation, three (or three-and-a-half, as my wife Karen joined us) were present. Forgive me for this somewhat lengthy newsletter, we experienced so much that needs to be shared.
The tragic drowning of Batbayar in November has caused concern among the staff, even though it happened during school hours and no one from Anna Home was involved. For the same reason, three brothers—Odtselmeg, Odgerel, and Odbaatar—were removed from the home by their mother. They had only been with us for a year and had come to Anna Home because their mother was facing major issues, which she still struggles with. Against the advice of Anna Home and against the advice of child welfare services, she took her children back. We hope things go well but expect that they will return.
Child Welfare Services and the Mayor
As board members, we worked hard. For instance, we visited the new director of the Child Centre (child welfare services), who promised to collaborate more closely with Anna Home and to lobby the provincial government for a much larger financial contribution from the authorities. We also visited the mayor, who had been in office for just a month. “How strange, really, that all the money has to come from the Netherlands,” he remarked. Over the past 18 years, we have visited every mayor and governor to discuss this issue, but he is the first to take proactive action. He followed up in two ways: by making a donation of 10,000,000 Tugrik (€2,800) and by presenting a beautifully crafted wooden plaque, which he delivered to us at the celebration on the final day.
The text has been translated by ChatGPT as follows:
Here a silence is appropriate. I will gladly leave the rest of the account of events to a few of the travellers.
Victor on Rough Edges
Mongolia, what a remarkable country it is! It’s different from the Netherlands in so many ways. During our trip, we saw beautiful, vast, empty landscapes. We also visited the cities of Ulaanbaatar (UB) and Choibalsan. Additionally, we met many friendly people.
Amidst all the beauty, the “rough edges” often stand out. UB has a centre with many amenities but suffers heavily from smog. There is a lot of construction happening in the city, but sites remain abandoned for long periods in winter because it’s impossible to build in the cold. The country’s empty regions are stunning, but the people who live there often leave in winter to survive. The rough edges also have to do with the significant disparities between the rich and the poor. In UB’s outskirts, we gained an impression of how the poorer people live. Many comforts we take for granted are absent. People heat their gers with coal stoves, fetch water from afar, and use outdoor toilets, just a shack with a hole in the ground. Streets are littered with trash, and stray dogs roam everywhere. It’s easy to imagine how things can go wrong here. People make bad choices or run into trouble for other reasons. Families may no longer be able to cope, and children must seek protection elsewhere.
It touches me to see all the children at Anna Home. I don’t know their individual backgrounds, but I now have an idea of where they come from. I notice that all of them are so kind and cheerful. They take care of each other and treat one another as equals. I hope I was able to give them a few fun moments during my visits and that they might remember the tall guy in the yellow coat. But more importantly, I hope Anna Home gives them a solid foundation for the rest of their lives so they won’t end up back in those rough edges.
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Ineke on Wonder Children
What a joy it was to finally meet the children, all lined up neatly from smallest to tallest. And what enthusiasm they showed when playing tag games, Anne Maria… Koekoek, and many more. They loved playing with us and connecting. They proudly showed us their bedrooms and the rest of the house. Everyone eats together in the kitchen and thoroughly enjoys it.
They do their homework at the big table with great focus, almost impossible to distract. They are driven to do well. They’re also excited about learning English with the “talking pen.” I hope it helps them practice their English. Three students from my school in the Netherlands wrote in Mongolian about what they like, what keeps them busy, and their desire to connect. A boy from Anna Home wrote a letter back in English. This letter has now been delivered to group 8 here, and the class plans to write back.
Actually, we had too little time with the kids. We managed to craft with the materials we brought, build with Knex, and play outside, but it was all too short.
A Fitting Poem by Toon Hermans
A child is so much more
Than a future lady
Or a future lord
If you don’t see the wonder in a child
Then you don’t understand this rhyme at all.
(Sorry, in Dutch this is a lovely rhyme!)
Each child is indeed a wonder. A wonder that must be nurtured to develop. Thanks to Anna Home, these children get a chance to grow.
Jan on Calm and Patience
In the icy cold and quite literally under the smoke of a caricature-like power plant stands a somewhat clumsy, sturdy building. On the outside, it’s still a bit rough around the edges, but as you step inside, the warmth greets you immediately. Neatly dressed boys and girls await you in an orderly yet heartfelt manner and allow themselves to be observed and photographed by the big group of people sailing into their safe harbour.
You don’t see a lot of strict discipline, but the children behave exemplary, calmly, and patiently. Disney and Barbie haven’t struck yet, but the interior is simple yet cozy. Despite the sad reason that they are here, one might almost think that many Dutch children could learn a lot here. In any case, you leave a generous donation with confidence, knowing it will undoubtedly be well spent.
Jan’s performance as a magician clown was a huge success.
Margreet on Loving Care
It’s unbelievable how many children live at Anna Home. When we arrived, they came from everywhere and neatly stood in line. Not a single harsh word was spoken; everyone was like one big family, giving each other space. Everyone was neatly dressed, clean, and fresh. Without Anna Home, these children would have little to look forward to in life. Here, there is order and peace. Good food and education. Mothers who provide the love that children so desperately need. I saw children, some shy, others more outgoing, but when it came down to it, the peppernuts were shared equally among them.
This is a beautiful project that, after 18 years, is still thriving and continues to exist thanks to the support of its sponsors.
Marleen: “Everything is Different Here”
In Mongolia, everything is different. With that certainty, we travelled thousands of kilometres eastward to visit Anna Home and catch a glimpse of the country. Over the next two weeks, it became clear just how different, but also how unique, stunning, unprecedented, and special, the land and its people are. 
Upon our arrival at Anna Home, all the children were lined up neatly to welcome us. Like any introduction, the first few minutes were a bit awkward, but that quickly changed as we spent time connecting. With translation apps and, above all, gestures and body language, any awkwardness vanished almost immediately. We started practicing each other’s names, playing games, and asking questions. How wonderful it is that the children, despite all the hardships they’ve faced, are so friendly, open, and grateful!
The highlight of our visit to Anna Home was the festive afternoon a few days later. All the girls wore colourful dresses, and the boys were dressed in suits or traditional deels. Everything had been prepared to make it a great afternoon together with us and with everyone who holds Anna Home dear. Many children had prepared performances, treating us to singing, dancing, and a taekwondo demonstration. I had also prepared something for the festive afternoon: singing in Mongolian. It was nerve-wracking, but how wonderful it was to sing our song with the children and then with everyone in the room!
After all the performances, we enjoyed cake, watermelon, grapes, and other fruits you wouldn’t expect to find in Mongolia when it’s 20 degrees below freezing outside. As I said, everything is different. And we thoroughly enjoyed this wonderfully “different” experience!
Pauline: “They Can Truly Be Children Here”
During the previous donor trip in July 2022, I was introduced to Anna Home and its residents. I enjoyed the children’s cheerfulness, kindness, and carefree nature. And the warm care they are surrounded with. I wasn’t just impressed by Anna Home but also by Mongolia, and I already sighed back then that I’d love to see the country in winter.
And now it’s happened! On the first day, we met the four former residents currently studying in Ulaanbaatar. Thanks in part to Enkhee’s mentorship, they’ve found their footing in the big city. 
After a two-day bus journey, we were greeted at Anna Home by the children, the mothers, the cook, and Boldsaikhan. They welcomed us with beaming smiles and proudly showed us their bedrooms. They still remember the song Papegaaitje leef je nog and still love a ball or tag game outside.
During the week we spent in Choibalsan, we spent as much time as possible in and around the home. Since my last visit, the house has been painted, the kitchen renovated, and necessary repairs have been made. Once again, I was moved by the children’s joy, openness, and sense of community. At Anna Home, the children can truly be children. They can play, giggle, tease, wrestle, do sports, grumble, do homework, or help with chores. This is possible because the mothers (and the cook!) manage the household with such warmth. It’s also thanks to the tireless efforts of Boldsaikhan and the board of Anna Home. And last but not least, it’s possible because so many donors provide a solid financial foundation!
On the final evening in Choibalsan, there was a special celebration. With cake, fruit, and candy. With many guests, including some former residents of Anna Home. Naturally, the children wore their finest clothes. There were songs, dances, and a taekwondo demonstration. Marleen surprised everyone by beautifully singing a Mongolian song, carefully prepared and wonderfully performed. There was also a film featuring footage from Anna Home between 2007 and 2016, a nostalgic experience for the former and oldest current residents.
Once again, it was an incredibly special experience to be at Anna Home (and in Mongolia). I enjoy looking back at the photos and sharing stories about Mongolia and, especially, the great work being done at Anna Home.
Maarten