As of 2020, there are about 25,000 illiterate adults in Mongolia, most of whom live in rural areas. During the implementation of previous Save the Children projects, it was found that many nomadic parents/caregivers cannot provide educational support for their children, particularly those with disabilities. Therefore, Save the Children is implementing the project “Introducing a Systematic Support Model for Illiterate Herder Parents to Improve the Learning and Wellbeing of Children with Disabilities”.
This project aims to do the following:

• Assess the literacy levels of herder parents and caregivers of children with disabilities in rural areas
• Identify the barriers they face in supporting their children’s education and wellbeing,
• Develop a needs-based curriculum program to increase their knowledge in supporting their children’s learning and wellbeing and improve their literacy skills.

Overall Goal: 

Children with disabilities in rural villages in Uvurkhangai and Khovd provinces receive adequate support from their parents and caregivers to exercise their rights to education and wellbeing.

Project Goal:

The local government and Lifelong Education Center establish a model of the blended learning programme for herder parents and caregivers to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as their skills and attitudes toward supporting their children, which can be replicated in other Mongolian rural villages in the Uvurkhangai and Khovd provinces.

Target location:

• Bat-Ulzii, Zuunbayan-Ulaan soums of Uvurkhangai province
• Bulgan, Darvi soums of Khovd province

Target groups: 

• 60 herder parents and 60 children with disabilities
• 15 lifelong learning teachers
• 34 employees of local government organizations
• 4 members of the branch commission for health, education and social protection of children with disabilities

Partners: 

• Lifelong Education Center of Uvurkhangai Province
• Lifelong Education Center of Khovd province