Riding Toward Tomorrow: Margad-Erdene’s Journey of Hope, Grit, and Belief

In a quiet rural village, where dirt roads stretch beneath vast open skies, Margad-Erdene grew up learning the language of perseverance. He is one of seven children in a close-knit family, where love is abundant but resources are scarce, and where every day begins with work shaped by patience and determination.

For more than two decades, his parents have relied on their craft to sustain the family. Since 2001, they have hand-stitched leather boots using a single manual sewing machine, carefully cutting, stitching, and shaping each pair by hand. Every boot took hours to complete. Every sale required effort, negotiation, and hope. Some days brought income; others brought uncertainty. Yet through it all, his parents persisted, modeling resilience not through words, but through action.

For Margad-Erdene, escape and expression came on two wheels.

Cycling was not simply a sport. It was a dream that carried him forward when circumstances felt heavy. On his bicycle, he felt free. The wind became his companion, the road his teacher. But passion alone could not remove barriers. There were times when the simplest necessities, like proper cycling cleats, were beyond reach. Standing on the sidelines, watching others compete with better equipment, Margad-Erdene felt the quiet ache of limitation. Still, he kept riding. Still, he kept believing.

Then, in a moment that would reshape his path, belief arrived from afar.

Margad-Erdene was chosen by a sponsor, someone he had never met, yet someone who saw potential where others saw distance. This sponsor became more than a supporter; they became a reminder that hope can travel across borders. The gift was simple, but profound: professional cycling shoes, something Margad-Erdene had dreamed of but never imagined owning.

With that gift, everything began to change.

Confidence replaced doubt. Determination sharpened. With proper equipment beneath his feet and belief in his heart, Margad-Erdene found his rhythm. In 2025, his hard work bore fruit as he proudly earned five gold and silver medals at provincial, regional, and national competitions. Each medal told a story, not only of speed and strength, but of perseverance, discipline, and the quiet courage to keep going when the road felt long.

Yet Margad-Erdene’s growth was not measured only in victories.

Through World Vision’s child-focused programs, he found a space to learn beyond the classroom and the race track. He joined trainings and community events that taught him how to protect himself, make thoughtful choices, and care for others. He learned about friendship, responsibility, and the importance of safeguarding the environment he calls home. Among his most joyful memories was the “Juice Party”, a simple gathering that carried a powerful lesson: that even one person, even one child, has the ability to create change.

As Margad-Erdene’s confidence grew, so too did the transformation within his family.

Through World Vision’s program, his parents received training, tools, and equipment support that allowed them to expand their small business. No longer limited to a single product, they began producing a wider range of leather shoes and belts. They gained access to trade fairs, new markets, and steady opportunities. With increased income came stability and with stability came dignity, choice, and hope.

For the first time, the family could plan for the future, not just survive the present. They could support Margad-Erdene’s talent more fully, encouraging his training and celebrating his achievements with pride.

This is not only the story of a boy who loves cycling.
It is the story of what happens when opportunity meets belief.
When a child is seen.
When a family is empowered.
When partnerships cross distances and create lasting change.

Margad-Erdene continues to ride forward, carrying with him the lessons of resilience, the strength of his family, and the knowledge that his dreams matter. His journey reminds us that when hope is nurtured and potential is supported, the road ahead, no matter how long, can lead to a brighter tomorrow.