Growing her future with trees

Save the Children is successfully implementing the “My Forest Child” project in Nalaikh District, Ulaanbaatar with the aim of establishing forest and enhancing environmental education among local communities. One of the active students supporting and engaging in the project’s activities is Maraljin Tuvshinjargal, a student at Golomt Complex School.

Maraljin is a member of her school’s eco club and in recent years, she has been actively initiating  and carrying out environmentally friendly actions such as waste separation and tree planting together with her classmates. She shared that she dreams of living a happy life with her future husband and children in a green and healthy environment. Motivated by this dream, she actively participates in tree planting activities. Last autumn, Maraljin and her friends planted nine pine trees at the “My Forest Child” project site. She believes that trees play an essential role in producing oxygen and purifying the air. She also noted that spending time in green environment helps reduce stress and brings peace of mind, which is why she wishes her living environment to be greener.

Through participating in tree planting activities under the guidance of specialist, Maraljin learned that planting a tree alone is not enough. Regular care and watering are equally important. She expressed her commitment to continue planting trees every spring and autumn together with her friends and family. Addressing her peers, she shared: “Every man should do three things in their lifetime: plant a tree, write a book, and have children.”  She encouraged every child to plant trees and take care of the ones they plant.

In the face of the urgent threats posed by climate change and global warming, Maraljin has begun taking real, practical steps toward her dream of living in harmony with nature by understanding the pressures on the environment and the realities of today’s ecological conditions.

She shared that the “My Forest Child” project has greatly supported her journey toward achieving this dream. Through participating in project training sessions, she has gained a deeper understanding of climate change and the importance of tree planting.

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. Maraljin Tuvshinjargal, through participating in the project’s activities, has learned a great deal about conservation. In addition to planting trees, she is actively involved in many activities such as waste separation and reusing unnecessary items.”