Leader Club Members: Active Participation and Development
As part of the “Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills for Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia” project, implemented by Save the Children, 41 entrepreneur clubs are operating in target soums across five provinces. One of these clubs is located at Secondary School No. 5 in Sumber soum, Gobisumber province.
Graduates of the school’s ESEL program have come together to share their opinions, address challenges, support one another, and embody the meaning of the phrase “Together, our strength is like a boundless ocean.” ” They established the Leader Club, which now has over 120 members from grades 9-12. Today, these students advocate for the well-being of their peers, youth, local communities, and society, actively engaging in problem-solving not only within their schools but also in their broader environments. Their efforts are rooted in the ESEL program, where they developed key skills such as being responsible citizens, effective partners, empathetic listeners, and confident communicators.
Club leader and 11th-grade student D. Khongorzul shared, “When we first started our entrepreneur club, we had just over 20 members. Now, we have more than 120. Organizing the club’s activities wasn’t easy—we faced many challenges. During that time, we focused on being as flexible and creative as possible. We held regular team meetings, developed work plans, brainstormed ideas to overcome challenges, and organized our activities by adapting to each member’s schedule.”
As an organization based on children’s active participation, they assess their time and resources to choose the most realistic projects. They focus on raising funds for one or two key initiatives, encourage public involvement, and regularly share updates about their activities through the school and provincial websites.
“We see things from different perspectives, support each other, and come together as one when we take action,” said U. Enkhbayasgalan, an 11th-grade student and a member of the club’s board of directors. “We’re creating lasting memories and gaining valuable experience. Thanks to the club’s engaging activities, more and more students are getting involved.
Their efforts have been well-received and supported by both parents and the public. One example is the “Let’s Spread the Light” campaign, which the club launched in 2023. The students took the lead in installing sensor lights at all entrances in the ‘Nairamdal’ residential complex of their province to enhance the safety of students coming in and out of the buildings. Additionally, they organized a donation drive at both the school and provincial levels.
Since each entrance required five lights and one sensor light cost 150,000 MNT, the decision couldn’t be made by the students alone. With support from both students and parents, lights were successfully installed at five entrances. In 2024, the students met with the governor of Sumber soum and representatives of the project Soum Level Counsel to propose funding and support for the initiative. They held two meetings, after which the soum administration expressed its support and pledged to collaborate on the campaign. Club members believe this effort demonstrated the importance of children’s participation and initiative.
The fact that students are establishing participation-based entrepreneur clubs, running them, joining as members, and working together is a meaningful achievement and a great start. Interestingly, the word “entrepreneur” comes from the French verb “entreprendre”, which means “to undertake” or “to try.” In this spirit, these clubs are helping students move step by step toward their dreams—by identifying problems faced by children, citizens, and society, and working to find real solutions.