The Foundation

Lorinet Foundation was born from a simple belief: every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born.

For Bolor, this belief is deeply personal. Growing up in Mongolia during a period of significant economic and social transition, opportunities and resources were often limited. Yet education opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed, enabling her to pursue studies, build a career, and live across different countries and cultures. This experience shaped her belief that with the right opportunities and support, every child and young person can thrive.

For Pierre and Bolor, the decision to establish a foundation was also shaped by experiences during their travels in Southeast Asia. Seeing young children on the streets asking tourists for money left a lasting impression on them. Like many people, their first instinct was to offer immediate help. Yet the experience also revealed a difficult reality: good intentions do not always lead to positive outcomes, and some forms of assistance can unintentionally reinforce the very challenges they seek to address. This prompted a deeper question: how can we support children and families in ways that create lasting opportunities rather than dependence? The reflection sparked a growing commitment to addressing root causes and investing in solutions that continue creating impact long after the initial support is provided.

In 2017, they founded Lorinet Foundation with a commitment to expanding opportunities for children and young people in Mongolia. Rather than spreading resources broadly, they chose to focus on areas where they believed lasting change could be achieved: giving children the strongest possible start in life through early childhood development, and helping young people build pathways to meaningful employment.

Over the years, the Foundation’s understanding of impact has evolved. They have learned that meaningful change is rarely achieved through short-term interventions alone. Instead, it comes from investing in strong local organisations, building trusted partnerships, and supporting solutions that continue creating value long after grant funding ends.

Today, Lorinet Foundation works alongside dedicated organisations, educators, practitioners, and community leaders across Mongolia. Together, they are helping create opportunities for children and young people not only to succeed individually, but to contribute to the future of their communities and their country.

We believe that lasting change takes time. It requires patience, trust, collaboration, and a willingness to learn. Above all, it requires belief in the potential of people.

More than a decade later, that belief continues to guide everything we do: every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Our Values

  • We want to enable people to learn and acquire the skills they’ll need to adapt in the fast-changing world and access opportunities to have a viable future for themselves.

    We recognise that this is also a learning journey for us and we do not assume that we know better or have all the answers. We aim to work with the communities to understand their needs and co-create solutions.

  • We want to empower others to achieve their aspirations and goals. For us achievement also means creating tangible impact with measurable positive difference.

    We are cognisant that we can’t accomplish our mission all by ourselves and will strive to partner with other purpose driven organisations and stakeholders to achieve greater impact.

  • We want our work, people and processes to embody our values and to be consistent in our actions.

    We want to measure our impact carefully and consistently to ensure it is tangible as well as meaningful.

“In the 1980s, growing up in socialist Mongolia, resources like food, clothing, and extracurricular activities were scarce. However, attending a Russian-Mongolian high school provided me with a precious opportunity to develop a love for learning and books. Through the pages of books, the world unfolded before me, shaping my values, guiding me to discover my true identity, and inspiring me to pursue my dreams. Even during challenging times, books provided solace and comfort. It is my heartfelt desire that every child is afforded the chance to grow up surrounded by books and to be inspired by the joy of learning and education.

Equally important to me and Pierre is the cultivation of empathy and compassion in our three children. We strive to raise them as individuals who genuinely care about the well-being of others, particularly those who face adversity. By fostering empathy and a sense of responsibility towards those less fortunate, we hope to contribute to a more compassionate society.”

- Bolor Lorinet

“I’ve had a fulfilling career and family life to date and feel fortunate. While a lot can be attributed to hard work and tenacity, one cannot ignore the element of luck in anyone’s success; luck that I was born in a developed and peaceful country where access to basic needs and more were readily available; luck that I had access to a good education; and luck in the timing and circumstances of the choices I made resulting in positive outcomes. For me, Lorinet Foundation is a way to give others, who may be less fortunate in their initial circumstances but no less able, a chance at success and fulfilment, whatever form that may take.”

- Pierre Lorinet