From Dream to Action

Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul, a student at Golomt secondary school in Nalaikh district, is one of the young people who has benefited from My Forest Child project and taken real steps toward achieving her dream of living in a greener environment.

Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul, 16,  lives in Nalaikh district, which, although located on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, is well connected by road and surrounded by beautiful natural and historical landmarks such as the Tuul River, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, and Zuun Mod. However, as most of the district’s residents live in ger (yurt) areas, air pollution and smog become serious issues during the winter season.

In 2021, Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul joined the eco club and began actively participating in environmental activities alongside her peers, such as cleaning the school yard, sorting and collecting plastic waste, and planting trees. The eco club, which has more than 20 members, operates regularly, and Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul is one of its most leading students.

In 2024, she learned about Save the Children’s My Forest Child project and had the opportunity to take part in it, an experience that inspired her to pursue her dream of living in a greener environment.

Through the project, Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul attended training sessions on climate change, where she deepened her understanding of the causes of climate change and the importance of tree planting in creating greener spaces. “Climate change is a global challenge,” she said. “By joining this training, I realized that the most tangible action I can take to help prevent climate change is planting trees”.

In September, Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul, together with her eco club members, visited the project site and planted more than 200 trees. On that day, she said, “Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to live in a place full of trees. Trees give us clean air to breathe, so I want to plant even more. During the training, I learned that nurturing and caring for the trees is just as important as planting them. That’s why I will continue to take part in looking after the trees we planted”.

My Forest Child project in Nalaikh district not only engages students in tree planting but also provides education on climate change and the importance of trees, helping to nurture environmentally conscious and responsible young people.

Enkhtuul Gombo, an ecology teacher at Golomt school, shared her thoughts: “We are very pleased that the project not only teaches our students the methodology of tree planting but also provides hands-on opportunities to practice it. Our students are very happy to have attended the training and planted trees themselves. Their attitude toward nature has noticeably changed. For example, Bayasgalan Tsogtsaruul has learned a lot about environmental protection through her participation in the project. She even came up with the idea of creating an information board on trees and climate change in the school’s biology class and actively contributed to preparing engaging materials for her peers”.