Ulaanbaatar
Mosaic wall project promotes creativity and collaboration of students
Society
Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. SOHO Impact and GerHub unveiled mosaic projects at two
public schools in Sukhbaatar and Chingeltei districts of Ulaanbaatar on June 8
and 9, 2019. The event, involving students from the first to twelfth grades at
each school, is a result of four-month efforts between SOHO Impact, GerHub,
and two schools, as part of the Education for Innovation Program (EIP). The
objective of the mosaic wall is to promote creativity and collaboration among
students inspiring them to transform their communities and neighborhood.
School-wide concept
challenges in March contributed to the mosaic designs based on essay and
drawing submissions at each school. The construction of the mosaic wall (2m x
10m) involved around 60-100 teams of ten students, each school, assembling
panels to be incorporated into the outside walls. The school staff and
students believe the mosaic will not only inspire students but also the ger
area communities around the schools to become a creative landmark in their neighborhood.
The EIP teaches
students 21st century skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication,
and collaboration or 4Cs) with additional two Cs for confidence and
community-mind set incorporating GerHub’s mission to the program. Educational institutions
and employers around the world highlight the importance of 21st century skills
to better prepare children and youth for fast changing world and dynamic labor
markets driven by technological advances.
Peer-to-peer
learning, creative teaching with bricks, student-centered classrooms are the
approaches SOHO Impact and GerHub are envisioning to introduce to public and
private school students in UB and beyond. Ger area school programs ran from
February through May 2019 and two pilot programs of a smaller scale were
piloted in two schools in Ovorkhangai and Bayankhongor provincial centers in
partnership with the US Peace Corps volunteers in Mongolia. For many students,
the creative and student-centered approach of the program were a highlight, while
others expressed their fascination with bricks as many, especially in rural
areas, are not accustomed to playing with them.
SOHO Impact is a
non-profit organization with a mission to foster creativity to help
communities thrive. Based in LA, California, US, SOHO Impact has projects in
South East Asia. Nexon Foundation funds the design and production of the
mosaic walls.
GerHub is a local nonprofit social enterprise that seeks to find innovative and creative solutions to some of the most pressing issues in the ger areas of Ulaanbaatar.
