ESEL training graduates gather to reflect on their experiences

Save the Children is implementing the project “Entrepreneurship-Focused Socioemotional Skills for The Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia” (2019-2025) in 29 soums of Khovd, Zavkhan, Uvurkhangai, Gobisumber, and Sukhbaatar provinces with the funding by the Japan Social Development Fund under the management of the World Bank.

As part of the project, a total of 8,773 children and young people have participated in the “Entrepreneurship-focused Socioemotional Learning” (ESEL) training program. In Ulaanbaatar, on 15 March 2025, Save the Children organized a meeting on the results of the project with the representatives of the youth who took the ESEL training program.

                             

Bayan-Altai.L, Country Manager and Representative, Save the Children in Mongolia, delivered opening remark in which he emphasized that: “Over the past period, many children and young people have benefited from the project. Today, we are organizing this event to discuss how the knowledge and skills gained from the ESEL training have influenced your ability to become university and college students and pursue future careers. I, therefore, hope that all of you will make the most of this meeting and be productive and creative.”

The youth held a discussion on “ESEL Knowledge, Skills and Mindset in My Everyday Life,” worked in groups on the topic of “ESEL in Our Future,” and shared their experiences, insights and ideas on developing their skills through the ESEL program and sub-grant funded projects.

                             

Nandinshur.E, a student at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology and an ESEL training graduate from the secondary school of Munkhkhaan soum, Sukhbaatar provinces stated, “I think I have gained three key skills from the ESEL program: time management, teamwork, and the ability to combine theory and practice. Writing a project was not difficult, but there were challenges in implementing it.”

“However, our project was very successful. When applying for various scholarships, the information about participating in the Save the Children’s project has had a positive impact. Thank you,” she added.

On the other hand, A.Munkhbayar. A, a student at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology University and an ESEL training graduate from the secondary school in Tudevtei soum, Zavkhan province, shared, “I was a shy and reserved child. Now, I am working in three student councils at the same time. Looking back, through this training program, I discovered myself and became more open in my interactions with others. I believe I now know well how to approach tasks and what kind of work to do.”

As a result of the meeting, the students who attended the meeting got to know each other, discussed ways to establish further connections, collaborate, exchange ideas, and share experiences in the future.