Starting from 2020, Save the Children is implementing “Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills for the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia” project in Khovd, Zavkhan, Uvurkhangai, Govi-Sumber, and Sukhbaatar provinces. This project is implemented in Ikh-Uul, Tosontsengel, Telmen, Tudevtei, Tes and Bayantes soums of Zavkhan province. N.Otgontushig was one of the first registered students for the ESEL training, when the project started in Telmen soum. For him, participating in the training program not only helped him make many changes but also brought successes one after another. As he and his teachers, and classmates said, he discovered new skills and, most importantly, improved his academic performance. During this period, N.Otgontushig has steadily improved in all his subjects, including chemistry, biology, and social science. Moreover, he became able to freely ask his teachers to explain what he did not understand, and now likes to solve advanced mathematical assignments. In March 2022, N.Otgontushig, who used to be an ordinary student like everyone else, stood on the stage to receive the first prize for winning the Mathematics Olympiad of his school in Telmen soum. His class teacher and school administrators were so proud of his achievements, while wondering what made this boy, who studied mathematics like everyone else, to excel in mathematics and show his classmates and teachers what he can accomplish. 

Moreover, the boy, who was not very fond of art and sports, suddenly asked “Can I dance?” at the opening of the “Pitch” competition, so his friends and schoolmates found out that he has a talent for dancing.

Mathematics teacher B. Munkhtsetseg, Social Science teacher B. Ishdorj, and School Principal G. Baigalmaa said that many changes that occurred for this individual student in a short period of time were the results of participating in ESEL training and learning to express himself and work as a team while listening to others.

N. Otgontushig was selected as the Best Entrepreneur Student of 2022 in Zavkhan province by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Zavkhan province. He created many positive changes for himself, improved his learning skills by leading the team and by taking part in the micro-project competition of the ESEL training by the Save the Children twice, and successfully presented them in front of the judges, so the school in Telmen soum nominated him for the Best Entrepreneur Student of the Year. 

N. Otgontushig said, “Before participating in the ESEL training, I was an introvert and weak student. The grief of losing my mother when I was a teenager was very difficult for me. After learning about the program offered by the Save the Children, I registered for the training. Having the opportunity to participate in the training was a real privilege for me. Through this training, my skills of self-expression, communication with my teachers and other friendsand teamworkhave improved significantly. I think these also helped me to improve my academic skills. I will teach younger students what I learned from the ESEL training. I want to become a doctor in the future. By becoming a good doctor, I think I will repay my father, who works diligently for us every day and for all that he has ever done for his children. I am sure that my mom would be proud to see me from heaven, even though she is not with me now. To become a son whom my mother would be proud of, I will try my best. I would like to express my gratitude to those who work at Save the Children, our teachers who facilitated the training to us, and all our friends at school.”