We met with the Governor of Bagh* in a remote area of Mongolia to discuss youth participation in the ESEL or Entrepreneurship-based Socio-Emotional Skills program of Save the Children Japan's "Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills For the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia" project.

Could you please introduce yourselves to us? 

- My name is Purevsuren Ts. I am the Governor of 4th bagh, Sumber soum, Gobi-Sumber province. Our bagh (the smallest administrative unit in Mongolia) is located in a remote area. 

How did you learn about and participate in the ESEL program? 

- The National Centre for Lifelong Education (NCLE) of Gobi-Sumber province provided me with information on the ESEL (Entrepreneurship-based Socio-Emotional Skills) program. After receiving the information, we disseminated it to our bagh's youth aged 14 to 25. The youth who were interested in the ESEL program contacted Ms. Amarjargal Kh, the NCLE's training manager. The program had four young participants from our bagh.

How was youth participation in the ESEL training? Could you tell us about any positive outcomes or changes you've seen?

 - One of the positive changes and benefits I have noticed during the program is teamwork and respect for one another. As a result, it may lead to them understanding and discussing what trainers taught. When I provided the participants with the ESEL information, I told them that the outcome would depend on their efforts, so please do your best. Three of the four participants wrote and submitted project proposals, were funded with a total of 2.8 million MNT (Mongolian National Currency), and launched their own businesses.

Please tell us more about the project that the youth have been working on.

Youth from the bagh participated in and graduated from the Entrepreneurship-based Socio-Emotional Skills program "Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills For the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia" project. As a result, they have started their own businesses that are based on their ideas, and have been implementing projects to contribute to the local development. One of the projects is focused on color design and printing. It enables to print various designs on fabrics, textures, and papers.

What are the benefits of the ESEL program, in your opinion?

- I believe that the ESEL program has provided excellent opportunities for adolescents in rural areas. The curriculum taught students how to perceive things from many perspectives, how to improve teamwork skills, how to write project proposals, how to seek new opportunities, and how to budget and plan. Most significantly, it enabled them to discover themselves and their vision, as well as plan their future. In addition, I have noticed that they have adopted a more positive attitude, developed an entrepreneurial mindset, improved their communication skills, and increased their level of work ethic, which has enabled them to comprehend that hard work is rewarded with success. In my perspective, one of the benefits of the ESEL program is an increase in creative thinking, as well as the ability to recognize and develop one’s own potential.

Please share your thoughts regarding future collaboration with the ESEL program.

- I believe that the ESEL program will significantly contribute to the youth development and their success. Therefore, I would like to share information with others and disseminate best practices as widely as possible. I understand the significance of collaborating with the management teams of bagh, soum, and aimag to further disseminate the program's benefits. 

I intend to share the information with other young people and mothers who care for their children at home in remote locations, in order to let them know about a significant educational and business opportunity.