Turning point

Like so many other people, 15-year-old Mungunsukh hated speaking in front of a crowd.

“I was a shy boy before. I used to go in between home and school only. I didn’t have many friends.”

“I became a leader of Child Participating Leading Council.

“My teacher told me to join in this council runs under World Vision. I wasn’t much into it because I was a shy boy.

“I started participating in World Vision trainings since 2007.

“I went for a teenager’s training. When I entered there, they asked a general question, ‘Who are you?’

“Who am I?

“Everybody was thinking how to answer for this question. There I was, and I decided to speak up in front of everybody. Children gave a weird look.

“I introduced myself, stuttered with red and hot burning face, ‘Hello, my name is Mungunsukh. I am 11 years old. I am my father’s son. I take care of animals. I am a citizen of Mongolia. I am looking forward to grow up. I dream of becoming a world traveler to see the seven wonders’.

“The teacher said, ‘What a cute speaking boy’.

“After I finished sharing about myself, children clapped hands for me. Everybody congratulated me.

“It was a turning point! I became so bold!

“Now I teach to students two to three times in a month. [Topics like]: ‘Let’s listen to your children’, ‘Disaster Prevention’, ‘Accident Prevention’, ‘Communication Skills’ and ‘Clean Environment’. I prepared these trainings together with World Vision staff and the school social worker. We taught them to 150 students.

“I like to teach students who respond back to me freely. [It is not common for Mongolian children especially countryside one who speak up].

“World Vision has been sponsoring me since 2006 when I was in the first grade in school. My first World Vision memory is that I had my photo taken and received a gift in December.

“I live with my grandmother and sister Narantsatsral, 14, in Orkhon county, Bulgan province. My mother and brother work in Ulaanbaatar [Mongolia’s capital city].

“I came to Ulaanbaatar twice only. I visited the Sukhbaatar square and took photos. 

“I thank Child Participation Leading Committee members who invited me to join with them [in 2012]. I became this committee leader in 2013.

“Thank you! Thank you very much for helping my provincial community!

“I won 2nd place singing in the Vision Star festival in 2013 in Bulgan province. I learned public speaking skills for two years, as well. I became a mini parliament member and Teen Group leader in 2014.”

His mother, Gantulga Namjil, shares, “My son wasn’t like this before. Now he is attending conferences and leading public events. All credits go to World Vision!”

Bulgan ADP spends very little financial resources on the Child Participating Leading Council but organizes many activities to empower community children. It leads children so they can have a bright future in participation in social activities and grow up to be effective and dynamic public speakers.

Now, Mungunsukh gets to influence his peers and encourage their participation and allow their voices to be heard.