A Child’s Loyal Friend – “My Notebook”

-Actions speak louder than words I understand you and I am here to support you-

The “Establishing School-Based Child Protection Mechanism in Mongolia” project, implemented by Save the Children at School No. 17 in Chingeltei district, has been  successful. As part of this project, Grade 12B students Ch. Anujin, P. Ijiltsetseg, T. Uchral, B. Idermunkh, and Ts. Munkhtur participated in the “I Support My Friends” peer support training program and were trained as peer educators. They conducted peer support sessions for 150 younger students in the primary and lower secondary classes at their school. Their efforts didn’t stop there; the students developed a project proposal, “My Notebook,” which was selected for funding through Save the Children’s micro-projects . Drawing on the knowledge and experience gained from the “I Support My Friends” program, they created this special notebook to promote friendship, understanding, and mutual support among children.

‘My Notebook’ is a comprehensive 35-page planner. Each child can use the notebook to write down weekly plans and goals, while the section titled ‘My Thoughts and Reflections’ allows them to record their feelings and impressions about daily events. Using the micro project funding, they printed more than 200 copies. One unique feature of the notebook is a list of emergency contact numbers printed at the back. It includes more than 30 key organizations, such as the National Center for Mental Health, Police Department, Emergency Center, Center Against Domestic Violence, Child Emergency Service, Infectious Disease Center, Burn Center, and National Poison Control Center. This ensures that children can quickly access help for themselves or their friends in case of an emergency or risky situation.

“My Notebook” also provides knowledge and guidance. For example, it explains concepts such as the “Triangle of Self-Confidence,” “What a child can or cannot control,” and ”Who are Supportive friends” – including a “protector friend,” “mind-expanding friend,” “connector friend,” “collaborating friend,” “guiding friend,” “creator and builder friend,” “motivating friend,” and “friend with shared interests” — along with tips on how to recognize them.

Each page of “My Notebook” is designed to provide children with useful information, enhanced by relevant illustrations and visually appealing layouts. The notebook also includes practical advice for handling daily challenges, such as: Write when you overthink. Meditate when you feel anxious. Sleep when you feel tired. Exercise when you feel sad. Walk when stressed. Listen to music when angry. Connect with others when lonely. Take a break when you feel overwhelmed.

The guidance section also features the phrase: “Actions speak louder than words – I understand you, I support you, and I will reach out to you.” This message creates a warm, reassuring feeling for every child using the notebook, fostering a sense of trust and hope.

The “My Notebook” project team introduced their notebook at a launch event, children wrote their impressions on colorful pieces of paper, which covered an entire wall.. Ariunbayar, the school psychologist, together with mathematics teacher B. Gerelchimeg, acted as the project trainer They are members of the  project implementation team.

As a project facilitator, Ariunbayar expressed satisfaction with the “My Notebook”. “The students warmly welcomed the notebook, which  was initiated by their senior classmates. ‘My Notebook’ helps children build confidence in their future, learn to plan their tasks, and develop a sense of purpose. I hope the notebook will serve as a close friend for each child, a place where they can safely write their personal thoughts and secrets. ‘My Notebook’ is a project designed to support children’s mental wellbeing, using the methodology from the ‘I Support My Friends’ program.”

According to D. Ariunbayar, teachers and social workers from other provinces, regions, and some schools in the capital have shown interest in “My Notebook,” reviewing it and requesting guidance to learn more about the project. He expressed gratitude to the team from the “Establishing School-Based Child Protection Mechanism in Mongolia” project for providing new knowledge and information on child protection and for adapting this innovative approach to local contexts.

All members of the “My Notebook” project team are peer educators. They share the knowledge they gained from the “I Support My Friends” program with their peers and younger students. Their training sessions are highly effective because they used engaging, interactive methods. For example, the peer educators used “Observe, Listen, Link” through a short drama performance, which captured the students’ attention and interest.

The success of this initiative is due to the dedication and diverse talents of the project team members:

Let’s introduce the students of the “My Notebook” project team.

Ch.Anujin aspires to become a lawyer. She is a member of the “Firebird” debate club at School No.17 and has won a championship in school debates. She also plays basketball and volleyball and is an active participant in social activities.

P.Ijiltsetseg is interested in pursuing a career in public health. She enjoys singing and has won gold and silver medals in the school arts competitions.

T.Uchral hopes to become a psychologist and also participates in debate competitions. In the future, she plans to study German and explore nursing science.

B.Idermunkh aspires to become a doctor. He competes successfully in basketball and volleyball at district, city, and national levels.

Ts.Munkhtur is preparing to become a financial market analyst. He focuses on mathematics and physics and participates successfully in domestic and international Olympiads.