Promoting children’s participation in decision making

Baaska and her grandmother at their home.
©UNICEF Mongolia/2016/Enkhzul Altangerel

Baaska is a 17-year-old high school junior, studying at “Aviyas” school of Khuvsgul province. She lives with her grandmother and two younger siblings in Murun, Khuvsgul province, in northern Mongolia. They live together in a small ger (traditional Mongolian tent). Baaska’s parents are herders, and they live in Tuv province, in central Mongolia, where they have better pasture land for their livestock.

Ensuring every child has good nutrition

2 year-old Azat eating bantan made by his mother

©UNICEF Mongolia/2016/Enkhzul Altangerel

A delicious smell runs through the house as lunch is ready. “Today I made bantan. Bantan is a Mongolian flour soup. It is very simple, made only from two ingredients, flour and meat. When it gets cooler, I’ll add micronutrient supplements to make it more nutritious” says 27-year old Juldiz. When she served her three children lunch, they ate quickly to see who finishes first. “I am happy when they eat well. Because it means that they will grow healthy” Juldiz smiles.

Faces of UNICEF: Surenchimeg Vanchinkhuu, Health Specialist at UNICEF Mongolia

Tell us a bit about your background?

I am a medical doctor and public health specialist by training. In 2000, I obtained my Master of Public Health degree from University of Sydney.

I began my career as emergency unit nurse at Third General Hospital in Ulaanbaatar. After that I worked as nutrition officer, external relations specialist at Ministry of Health as well as project manager at Asian Development Bank. Then in 2007, I joined UNICEF as health specialist.

Water is cool in school

An Olympic champion in the making: Bataa shows his medals from national and international taekwondo tournaments.

©UNICEF Mongolia/2016/Enkhzul Altangerel

When the bell rings for morning break in 119^th school, Nalaikh, classroom doors fly open and the children rush out. First stop, a reviving drink of cool, clean water from one of the school’s water filters. Seventeen-year-old Bat-Ireedui doesn’t have to go very far. “I’m lucky”, he grins, taking a gulp of water. “My classroom is right next to the water filter!” Drinking clean water whenever you want to may be something that many children take for granted – but not these students.