Community training boosts climate awareness among residents in Ulaanbaatar’s Nalaikh district

An environmental education initiative led by “My Forest Child” project  is helping residents in Ulaanbaatar’s Nalaikh district to better understand climate change and sustainable living practices.

Under the “My Forest Child” project, Save the Children organized community trainings  aimed at increasing ecological literacy among Forest management groups. The initiative brought together 40 local residents on June 27 and 30 for a four hour training session covering a range of climate related topics.

Participants received guidance on issues such as the environmental impact of climate change, adaptation strategies, income opportunities through fruit and tree planting, eco friendly financial literacy, and simple daily actions to reduce their carbon footprint.

The sessions were facilitated by D. Dorjkhand, a project officer from Save the Children, alongside Z. Baasansuren, a teacher from Nalaikh’s Lifelong Learning Centre, and D. Munkhnast, a lecturer from GMIT.

Local residents welcomed the training initiative. “The training was very engaging. Many families are now motivated to plant trees in their yards, but it’s important to choose species that are suitable for the local environment” said B. Ulziitsetseg, a resident of the 6th khoroo.

M. Temuulen, a resident from the 3rd khoroo, said, “This kind of training is very useful. If more people in the district had access to this information, the impact would be even greater. I plan to share what I’ve learned with my family and neighbors.”

                             

The initiative forms part of a broader effort by Save the Children to empower communities, especially youth, to take an active role in addressing environmental challenges through education and local action.

“My Forest Child” initiative aims to plant more than 90,000 trees across five hectares in Nalaikh’s fifth khoroo by the end of the project.

Launched in August 2024, “My Forest Child” project is training local residents to become climate change educators. So far, 50 residents have been trained, and they are leading awareness activities across the district. In collaboration with Nalaikh’s Development and Public Services Department and the Elders’ Committee, over 250 residents and more than 190 students have already participated in training sessions. By the end of 2025, the project aims to reach 1,500 people.

The project is also supporting the creation of eco clubs in schools across Nalaikh. With support from the project team, students have already launched micro projects in six schools to promote environmental education and climate awareness.

“My Forest Child” initiative is not just about planting trees. It’s about planting knowledge, hope, and responsibility for a greener and more sustainable future in the hearts of Nalaikh district’s youth.