Campaign
GerHub's 4th year anniversary
Date
04/22/2020
What we learned about Partnership?
Four years ago, we purposefully named our organization GerHub as an expression of who we strive to be. Ger is the traditional nomadic dwelling that we work so closely with. It is not only a type of housing but a beloved Mongolian symbol of family, heritage, and lifestyle. The second part of our name, Hub, is what we hope others will perceive us as—a place that brings people and ideas together. Every single project of ours has been in close partnership with another institution. We are fortunate to have worked with a wide variety of entities ranging from local grassroots movements to world-class research institutions. We have closely collaborated with individuals ranging from middle-school children to retirees. Why have partnerships been a part of our DNA from the beginning? It is because we are acutely aware of our own deficiencies—we know what we don’t know. Fortunately, we know a lot of people that do know. People who are deeply knowledgeable about a certain community or a certain topic such as design-thinking, creativity, architecture, and so on. We know that the best outcomes can be achieved only when we pool together
the insights of these various individuals and organizations.
As we look back on all the partnerships we’ve had, there are a few standouts that have been both joyful and impactful. We want to take this moment to celebrate these partners and distill what we believe have been the keys to the success of these partnerships. We hope these points will make you think about your collaborative efforts and how to further nurture them.
Key 1: Shared goals
Our first and longest-standing partner is Rural Urban Framework (RUF), an architectural center at The University of Hong Kong. The partnership dates back to even before GerHub was officially registered as an organization. We have collaborated on a long list of projects over the years that have included international exhibitions, the Ger Plug-In, and most recently the Ger Innovation Hub. The partnership with RUF and its Director Prof. Joshua Bolchover has sustained over the years because there is such a close alignment in interests. Both GerHub and RUF have committed to the long-term development of the ger areas and we both want to show how we can drastically re-imagine our living environments through bold initiatives. It is rare to find such seamless overlap
in fundamental beliefs, but when it is found, it is the foundation for a special relationship that endures over the years!
Having shared goals is an extremely important factor that allows for all sorts of organizations to come together at the same table. It is an aspect that facilitates initial correspondences and discussions. It even allows for people and organizations with no existing relationship to quickly get on the same page as long as there is alignment in the intent. We work hand-in-hand with amazing
local community organizations and leaders who are tirelessly working to improve their communities. Our close collaboration with Eco Town and Green Lake, and their respective founders G. Odgerel and S. Ulziitogtokh, has brought tangible impact on the communities we strive to serve. Our organizations, and stakeholders, are all heavily invested in achieving the same goals and that
serves as a basis for collaboration. In fact, having this perspective will make it clear that it would be foolish not to collaborate. We hope to see more organizations working towards the same goals to also work together.
Key 2: Respect
In some cultures, the concept of respect seems to be interpreted in a one-sided manner—youth respecting the elderly, students respecting their teachers. However, in a collaborative environment, it is vital for a sense of respect to flow both ways regardless of age, sex, social status, etc. There has to be respect for the other party’s perspectives and decisions. For us, an entity that embodies
this concept is our partners at the Center for Environmental Building & Design at the University of Pennsylvania. Prof. William W. Braham, the center’s Director, and his colleagues are some of the foremost experts in building science and environmental design, so it is easy for us to respect and value their advice. However, what has stood out in all our conversations has been the sincere
interest they have shown towards our work and opinions. They are the embodiment of how even as world-class experts, it is possible to remain humble and to have an ever-curious learner’s mentality. As a result, our partnership has produced insights into the traditional ger dwelling through extensive energy audits and massive amounts of data collected over consecutive winters. The research gives us a much better understanding of gers from a scientific perspective and guides our initiatives related to ger modification.
Key 3: Trust
A big part of our efforts so far has been in identifying and developing various architectural and product-based solutions. However, none of that work will have large-scale and long-term impact unless we invest in people. At the end of the day, our goal is to improve the lives and outcomes of people. Education is one of the core pillars in our work and the Education for Innovation Program (EIP) is our flagship project in that area. Over the past couple of years, EIP has grown to define our way of thinking and our faith in the long-term transformation of ger area communities through our work with children and youth. EIP was launched
in partnership with Nexon Foundation and the idea was initially sparked from a simple conversation we had with their Program Director Sun Min Camilla Park. When we think about our partnership and relationship with Nexon Foundation, the thing that immediately stands out is the mutual trust in each other. The underlying trust in our relationship allows for each party to operate in a way that allows for open and honest conversations that lead to better outcomes. The current COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our educational programming plans since they rely on in-person lessons and workshops. We were able to pivot our content and delivery over to digital channels in a short amount of time because Nexon Foundation trusts our judgement. Likewise, we have full confidence that they will support our decisions, so it makes it easy for us to stay nimble and flexible—characteristics that have become crucial in this day and age.
These are the three keys to a successful partnership that we have come to recognize over the years. Of course, these keys are not clear cut and there are lots of overlaps and intricacies that make each partnership a joy but also a work-in-progress. One partnership that exemplifies all of these key ingredients for us is with Walt Jenkins, our long-time mentor, friend, and supporter. Walt has been an instrumental figure in the academic, leadership, and personal growth of thousands of Mongolians over the last two decades. He has committed so much of his time and energy to initiate and nurture various initiatives over the years,
impacting not only GerHub but numerous other nonprofits in Mongolia.
We have no doubt that partnerships will take on even more significance in the post COVID-19 world. The pandemic has shown how the entire world is deeply interconnected and how we should never ignore things that are happening in different parts of the world. While we are currently living through challenging times, we must also look optimistically into the future as the resilience and unity of the world is put under the spotlights. There is so much good happening around the world and it will be the collaborative efforts of governments, nonprofits, and corporations that will lead us past the pandemic.
As GerHub celebrates its 4th anniversary, we would like to extend our appreciation to all of our wonderful partners, past and present. The whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts and we look forward to the many memories we will forge in the years ahead. Thank you!