Mongolian girl goes back to school after a decade

Uyangaa chats happily with her classmates, using sign language. © UNICEFMongolia/2017/ Mungunkhishig Batbaatar

“My name is U-Y-A-N-G-A-A with a long A-A at the end” says Uyangaa, using sign language that she has just learned at school. It’s difficult to believe that, until recently, this joyful 16-year-old had been isolated and lonely, excluded from school for the last ten years.

Unfolding individual potentials: A learning and recreational center gives children room to grow in Khuvsgul, Mongolia

Tamir after completing his puzzle game

©UNICEFMongolia/2017/Mungunkhishig Batbaatar

Rinchinlhumbe soum, Khuvsgul province: “Look, look! I’ve finished this” proudly says 7 year-old Tamir after completing a colored puzzle game in a newly-established learning and recreational center at a local school. He is an outgoing, bright kid who lives in Rinchilhumbe soum, one of the coldest places in Mongolia where the temperature stays around -40°C most of the time during winter.

Inclusive society starts in school

Shuree likes to read and dreams of becoming an actress

 ©UNICEF Mongolia/2016/Enkhzul Altangerel

      From the pile of letters, Munkhshur picks letter “Р” to complete the word “САР” which means “moon” in English. “I know how to spell many words. Do you want to see the others?” smiles Shuree, as her friends call her, eager to show what she has learned at school.

Books on the move: reaching children with disabilities

Ochiroo with his younger sister outside his home

@UNICEF/2015/Enkhzul Altangerel

“This is a dog, and that one is a cat!” says 4-year-old Ochiroo, turning pages of a children’s book about animals. Ochiroo loves to read children’s books with his mother. He has learned many new words from the books, including names of animals and objects in the past few months. Learning is a special activity for Ochiroo, as he has not been able to attend kindergarten due to hip dysplasia, which made it very difficult for him to walk.

Хөгжлийн бэрхшээлтэй хүүхдүүд

©UNICEF Mongolia/2015/Andy Brown

Хөгжлийн бэрхшээлтэй хүүхдүүд бусад хүүхдийн адил сурч боловсрох, эрүүл мэндийн үйлчилгээ авах, хамгаалуулах, амьд явах эрхтэй. Гэвч тэдэнд эрхээ эдлэхэд нь нэмэлт дэмжлэг хэрэгтэй байдаг. НҮБ-ын Хүүхдийн сан Монгол улсын Засгийн Газар болон бусад байгуулагуудтай хамтран хөгжлийн бэрхшээлтэй хүүхдүүд болон тэдний гэр бүлийг дэмжин ажиллаж байна.

Photo story: children with disabilities

© UNICEF Mongolia/2015/Andy Brown

Children with disabilities have the same rights as other children – to an education, health care, protection and survival. But they need more support to achieve these rights. UNICEF works with the Mongolian government and other partners to support disabled children and their families.

Riders on the storm: protecting child jockeys in Mongolia

Budgarav, 15, was disabled while working as child jockey
© UNICEF Mongolia/2014/Zetty Brake

In a ger tent in Ulziit, horse racing capital of Mongolia, 15-year-old former child jockey Budgarav rests on his crutches and adjusts the baseball cap on his head. Four years ago he was thrown from a horse during training and trampled, losing his front teeth and breaking both his legs. “It was very painful when I fell,” he says.

Welcome to School: Ensuring education for children with disabilities

Davkhar launches a paper plane he built outside the 

family home © UNICEF Mongolia/2014/Andy Brown

Outside a ger tent, Davkhar’s brow is furrowed in concentration. His nimble fingers fold the piece of paper in his hands, making a paper plane. He finishes, looks up and throws the plane.  It flies for a few seconds before floating to the ground. After a few more test runs, he squats down to the ground and starts making adjustments to the plane. On the next attempt it flies further.