Community volunteers
“My husband and I moved to Ulaanbaatar from Bayankhongor province in 1997 with our two daughters. But within a year, he had left the three of us and remarried,” Tserendolgor says. “I didn’t know anybody [in the city] and I had no place to go.”
Tserendolgor, a 50-year-old grandmother continues her story:
“I had to ask my in-laws to let us use an outbuilding. It was very difficult to survive during the winter. I covered the inside of the building with carpet and blankets. And I tried to work in many companies, but I wasn’t successful."
"I was desperate. I used to collect cans, vodka bottles, cow dung, coal… almost anything to survive."
“Local government staff introduced me to World Vision in 2009 when they saw our living conditions. I told them that I was homeless. I was desperate. I used to collect cans, vodka bottles, cow dung, coal… almost anything to survive"
"During the severe winter, my two daughters stayed at the homes of friends of my older daughter, Dorjpagam. World Vision gave me a ger [Mongolia’s traditional tent-like shelter] in October 2012. I’m more than willing to help those in need as I’ve been through a lot in my life. I’ve volunteered with World Vision and for the people in Amgalan since 2009."
"I’ve learned how to cook nutritious food for babies and taught mothers about that since 2010. I want everybody to have a better life. Now, I work by delivering water from the well. I visit families after work to help them. I ask World Vision’s [sponsored] children to come to the well to collect their photos and letters for their sponsors"
"When I visit families, I sometimes see children in difficult conditions, like their parents are drunk and the children don’t have any food. When I see such situations, I run to the local government office or World Vision to seek help for them. I feel sorry for them [the children]. They’re just like my children. Who knows what great leaders they could become?”
Tuya, one of World Vision’s local team shares:
“Over the last 15 years that World Vision has implemented projects in Amgalan, volunteers have been encouraged to raise their voice to protect children’s rights and help the ones in need, who don’t know where to get help, to bring stability to the community. Now, people in the community are helping the families that don’t have any food by reporting them to the sub-district’s and hospital’s social workers and getting help for them"
"Volunteers have been encouraged to raise their voice to protect children’s rights and help the ones in need."
"If any child plays outside during school hours, [local] people have voluntarily started speaking up. World Vision doesn’t directly reach out to the children, but encourages people to help each other voluntarily and direct others to the government, police or hospitals. We’ve empowered volunteers on the projects implemented in the community: health, child protection, sponsorship, and economic development. We visit the sponsored children’s families with the volunteers because our organisation is leaving the community soon.”
Dorjpagam, a community participant
Dorjpagam, who is 27 and works for a coffee distribution company, says, “I have two daughters, Ariunzul and Ariungoo.
My children both had anaemia. I learned about cooking nutritious food from my mum and World Vision. My two children have been to the Nutrition Rehabilitation Summer Camp organised by the local hospital [and World Vision].
"My children both had anaemia. I learned about cooking nutritious food from my mum and World Vision. My two children have been to the Nutrition Rehabilitation Summer Camp organised by the local hospital and World Vision"
The children played in the sand and we learned how to cook healthy food and massaged them. They didn’t have any colds in the winter. Mothers shared what they know about taking care of their babies with each other. Since then, I’ve been sharing what I learned there with other mothers and they take my advice. I dream of my children getting to higher education and having a good life. And I send Ariunzul to a dance class. When she grows up, she will choose her education. She loves her drawing class. I like Tuya for the way she talks with and helps people. I thank World Vision’s staff.”
Seven-year-old Ariunzul
Ariunzul, who receives Christmas presents from World Vision, has participated in the sponsorship programme since 2010. She says, “My grandma cooks fried and steamed dumplings. I like to eat them. If any child can’t find their belongings, I help them to find them. If they tear their notebooks, I give them a new one. I’ve drawn pictures with World Vision. I’ve been camping twice. We ate together,” she continues, giggling. “I drew lots of pictures on many pieces of paper and gave them to Ariungoo for her birthday.”