A young girl’s voice for change
As part of My Forest Child project implemented by Save the Children in Mongolia, the “Eco Journalist” micro project is being carried out at the “Erdmiin Orgil” School in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar. Tovshinzaya Mainbayar, a 16-year-old active member of the eco club, is benefiting from this project. Tovshinzaya Mainbayar lives with her family in the relatively isolated Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar. She is a middle school student with a busy daily routine of classes, homework, and spending time with friends. After school, Tovshinzaya Mainbayar actively participates in the Eco journalist club, where she learns about environmental issues and shares her voice through creative projects.
Nalaikh is a semi-urban district located 36 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar. Once a major mining hub, its economy declined after the closure of the coal mine in the 1990s. Today, many residents rely on small businesses, seasonal work, and commuting to the capital for jobs. The area is accessible by road, but winters are harsh with heavy pollution caused by coal burning stoves. Poor air quality has become a serious issue for locals, especially children. Tovshinzaya Mainbayar, a student living in Nalaikh, faces these challenges daily but remains hopeful for a greener, healthier future.
Before joining the Eco Journalist project, Tovshinzaya Mainbayar had already cared about the environment in small ways including picking up litter near her school and planting new trees with her friends. However, she had never imagined herself as a journalist or environmental advocate. “I realized that even sharing my small actions on social media can inspire others” she says. “It’s just as important as the action itself.”
Within just one month, Tovshinzaya Mainbayar created six to seven pieces of content, including short videos about her school’s tree planting efforts, interviews with her classmates, and coverage of events like ‘Open Mic’. Through this project, she learned how to communicate with people, ask questions, and raise awareness about local environmental issues. “I met people with so many different opinions and ideas about nature,” she shares. “It was eye opening to listen and then share their thoughts with a wider audience.”
The project also changed her personal habits and those of her family. They began using reusable bags instead of plastic ones, conserving water by rinsing with a cup, and sorting household waste. “I connected what I learned with school subjects like geography” she says. “I never liked the class before, but now I understand why things like air pressure or water resources really matter.” Tovshinzaya Mainbayar hopes the project will continue and reach even more young people. “It may not bring instant results, but even one person deciding to plant a tree or pick up trash is a success. That’s what I’ve learned. Please don’t give up”.
Her teacher Nominchimeg Urjinkhand said: “Since joining the Eco Journalist project supported by My Forest Child project of Save the Children, I’ve noticed a clear shift in Tovshinzaya Mainbayar’s mindset and behavior. She has become more confident in expressing her ideas and takes the initiative to raise awareness about environmental issues among her classmates. What impressed me most is how she has turned small actions like sorting waste or conserving water into daily habits. These may seem simple, but they reflect a deeper understanding of responsibility and care for nature. Through this project, she has grown not just as a student, but as a role model for her peers’.