Yengorboy

IMG_0021Yengorboy is a village near the border of Mongolia with a population of around 500, all of them Buryats. Yengorboy is even more exotic than Mikhaylovka. The village is small enough that it is impossible to pass unnoticed if you weren’t from there. Even a Slavic Russian from the nearest town would be enough to turn heads.

Everyone in Yengorboy knows Russian because it’s the state language and because television and other forms of media are broadcast in Russian, but the people of Yengorboy have their own language they use for everyday communication. These people speak Buryat but if you know Russian then you’d be able to carry on a conversation with all except some of the elderly residents, like my grandmother.

Children from this region have problems obtaining higher education because Russian is not their native language. They use and study Russian, but only for a couple of hours a day at school. Russian IS a foreign language for them, but as long as they live in Russia they’ll have to pass their exams in the official language, Russian. Higher education becomes difficult for students in this situation as they are forced to take their exams that are not in their most proficient language, Buryat, placing them at a disadvantage when applying to colleges.

IMG_0028View a map.

  • Volunteer Summer School in Buryatia

    Volunteer Summer School in twitterVolunteer Summer School in Buryatia in Facebook

    • WHAT: Teach kids, travel and explore Buryat culture, food and nature.
    • WHERE: Eurasia -> Russia -> Buryatia
    • WHEN: 2011.
    • HOW MUCH: Cost
    • WHO: Volunteers from different countries of the world, those who want to visit the place they have never been to, want to see what they haven't seen, want to live unique experience, broaden own mind and help local children to get a wider exposure to the world and opportunities of the education.

    Make change - educate yourself and others!


    Please download our poster to spread the word!