Save the Children: 30 Years of Supporting Children in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – November 15, 2024
Save the Children marks a significant milestone in Mongolia this year, celebrating 30 years of dedicated service since the organization began its operations in 1994. Over the past three decades, Save the Children has implemented a wide range of impactful programs and projects focused on child protection, education, health, and social welfare, all aimed at improving the well-being of children across Mongolia.
On November 15, 2024, Save the Children in Mongolia held a special anniversary celebration in Ulaanbaatar. The event was attended by over 200 guests, including Save the Children’s management, staff, partners, government representatives, and international organizations.
Notable guests at the ceremony included Members of Parliament S.Zulphar, Ts.Munkhbat, and B.Munkhsoyol; D.Sunjid, Chief Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission; Kh.Batjargal, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science; and Provincial Governors G.Chinbat (Gobi-Altai Province), D.Iderbat (Sukhbaatar Province), and T.Bat-Erdene (Gobisumber Province).
The anniversary celebration also saw participation from key international organizations and embassies, with notable attendees including Fiona Blyth, Ambassador of the United Kingdom; Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator; Jana Zilkova, Country Director of Caritas; Tokuji Yoshimura, Deputy Director of JICA Mongolia Office; Risa Hanato, JICA Representative in Mongolia; Motai Akiko, JICA Manager; Sam Biro, Country Director of JCS; Dr. Socorro Escalante, WHO Resident Representative in Mongolia; Daniel Kweku Sam, Program Manager for the International Organization for Migration; Asem Baikit, Country Director of ADRA; B. Bolortsetseg, National Director of World Vision Mongolia; and B. Mungunkhishig, Country Director of People in Need Mongolia.
During his opening remarks, L.Bayan-Altai, Country Manager and Representative of Save the Children in Mongolia, said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to our current and former colleagues who have contributed to our work over the past 30 years, as well as to our partners from government and non-government organizations, international agencies, and donors who have supported the children of Mongolia. As the economy grows and the country continues to develop, new challenges related to child protection and education arise. Save the Children remains committed to addressing these issues in the years ahead.”
Member of Parliament Ts.Munkhbat emphasized in his speech: “Save the Children has made a tremendous contribution to our country’s development over the past 30 years. Among the many impactful projects implemented in Dundgobi, one that stands out is the ‘Supporting Livelihoods of Children and Herders Impacted by Dust Storms’ project, carried out in 2021.
As part of this initiative, 55 households in Dundgobi province received a ger (traditional Mongolian dwelling), 270 households received cash assistance, and 370 families were provided with hygiene sets, amounting to a total of approximately 500 million MNT.
Additionally, I am pleased to highlight several other significant projects in Dundgobi, which have delivered tangible results. These include the “Technical Assistance to Strengthen the COVID-19 Response in Mongolia” project (2021-2022), the “Picture Book” project (2022), and the “Mainstreaming Social Accountability in Mongolia” project (2020-2022), which aimed to increase transparency and public participation in the country.”
From 1994 to 2009, Save the Children in Mongolia was managed by Save the Children UK. Fiona Blyth, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Mongolia, remarked: “For 30 years, Save the Children has been a symbol of compassion and dedication to improving the lives of Mongolian children. I sincerely congratulate everyone who has contributed to this noble cause, including employees, volunteers, donors, and consultants. I am proud that the UK has stood by you throughout these years.”
D.Sunjid, Chief Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Mongolia, emphasized that all government agencies should prioritize children’s rights in every aspect of their work, including policies, programs, budgets, and monitoring activities. On behalf of the NHRC, she congratulated the Save the Children staff on its 30th anniversary.
Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator, stated: “Today, we are not just celebrating one organization; we are celebrating 30 years of stories from many individuals who have made a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of children in Mongolia. Save the Children has reached out to children and communities through a variety of activities, including child protection, poverty reduction, education, health, and humanitarian assistance. Over the past three decades, Save the Children has been a beacon of hope for many, especially those in need living in remote areas.”
Kh.Batjargal, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, noted: “Save the Children’s significant contributions to education have greatly improved the schooling of socially vulnerable and out-of-school children, as well as enhanced the living conditions of schools and dormitories in rural Mongolia. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Save the Children has contributed to the improvement of basic education policies at both the national and local levels. This includes developing effective training programs, fostering community engagement, enhancing curricula and the quality of inclusive education for children with disabilities and ethnic minorities, implementing model programs, and driving advocacy efforts”.
During the anniversary ceremony, a commemorative postage stamp marking the 30th anniversary of Save the Children was unveiled.
Mitsuaki Toyoda, Asia Regional Manager of Save the Children Japan and Country Director of Save the Children Mongolia, said: “Since the beginning of this year, we have been in discussions with Mongol Post to explore the possibility of creating our own unique postal stamp. Our goal was to incorporate key themes such as children’s education, health, child protection, climate change, and disaster risk reduction into the design of the stamp. I am both proud and happy to present the stamp we are unveiling today.”
B.Damdinbazar, Head of Stamps and Securities Department of Mongol Post JSC, and L. Bayan-Altai, Country Manager of Save the Children in Mongolia, signed the first envelopes, stamped them, and handed out to the guests.
The “30th anniversary of Save the Children in Mongolia” stamp highlights the importance of respecting children’s rights and promoting inclusive education for all. It features children with special needs and also depicts their efforts to protect the environment through scenes of tree planting and animal care.
A plaque was presented to the staff in recognition of their valuable contributions to Save the Children, as well as their over 10 years of dedication and commitment. Child Protection Program Officer G.Tsolmon, who represented the award recipients, delivered a speech. Ts.Gereltuya, representing those who have made history with Save the Children, also shared her thoughts with the participants.
Visitors also enjoyed the documentary “For Every Last Child,” which chronicles 30 years of achievements. In celebration of the anniversary, Save the Children created 30 presentation boards displayed in the ceremony hall, along with a pin, a bilingual book titled “30 Years of Breakthroughs for Mongolian Children” (in Mongolian and English), and a photo album, all of which were presented to the attendees. The anniversary ceremony featured performances by children from secondary schools that collaborate with Save the Children, including solo and choir singing, morin khuur (a traditional Mongolian musical instrument) performances, and a traditional national dance. Many employees were recognized with awards for their years of dedicated service and exceptional contributions.
Over the past 30 years, Save the Children in Mongolia has received financial support from more than 80 donor organizations across 20 countries, totaling approximately $40 million.
The organization’s vision is to create a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Its mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve both immediate and lasting change in their lives. Save the Children Mongolia remains committed to making a positive impact on children’s lives through projects and programs in Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Education, Child Poverty Reduction, Health, and Emergency Humanitarian Assistance. The organization operates in Ulaanbaatar and seven provinces
During the last 100 years, Save the Children has expanded and now operates in over 120 countries. Save the Children’s Mongolia Program was launched in 1994 and operated with management support from Save the Children UK from 1994-2009 and from Save the Children Japan since 2009.