When there is a will, there is a way: Investing in early childhood development (ECD) in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar

Uranbileg and her favorite Teddy bear
©UNICEFMongolia/2016/Mungunkhishig Batbaatar

“I want to be a doctor when I grow up so that I can heal others,” says 5-year-old Uranbileg, also known as Urnaa. She lives in Nalaikh, a peri-urban district in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Her bright, intelligent smile belies the chronicle of her past pain and doubt. Having been born with bilateral orofacial clefts, her parents wondered if her little daughter would have a normal life in the future.

Mobile kindergartens – best learning place for herders’ children

Otgonsuren drawing with colored pencils
©UNICEF Mongolia/2015/Tsendsuren Tumee

“My favorite toy is a car!” cheerfully says 4 year-old Otgonsuren.  “We have so many toys to play with, but I like painting and drawing the most”. Taking a pencil from stack of colored pencils, he starts drawing. Otgonsuren started kindergarten only this summer, and he has been enjoying the new experience. “I really like my kindergarten” he says.

Making all kindergartens child friendly

Bat-Erdene listening intently ©UNICEF/Mongolia/2015/Altangerel Sandag

Bat-Erdene stares at the piece of paper, with a look of intense concentration. He is drawing his favourite character, spider-man. Before beginning the drawing he debated with his kindergarten teacher how much paper he needed to draw spider-man. He wanted a bigger piece of paper in the room, instead they compromised on a smaller piece.

Төр, хувийн хэвшил хүүхдийн сайн сайхны төлөө хүчээ нэгтэж байна

Гавкар охин цэцэрлэг дээрээ тоглож байгаа нь 

© НҮБХСМонгол/2015/Зетти Брейк 

Налайх дүүргийн 152-р цэцэрлэгийн гадаа бяцхан хүүхдүүдийн инээж, баясах дуу цангинана. Цэцэрлэгийн барилгын өмнөх талбайд барьсан 2 гэр цэцэрлэгийн хүүхдүүд хөгжилдөн тоглож байгаа нь энэ.

Private and public sectors working together to improve children’s lives

Gavkar playing at kindergarten

©UNICEF/Mongolia/2015/Zetty Brake

The sound of laughter and children’s voices floats across the grounds at Kindergarten 152 in Nalaikh, a small city 40 kilometers from Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar. It is coming from the two white gers, Mongolia’s traditional, mobile home that sit in front of a multistory kindergarten building.