Save the Children is implementing a project "Entrepreneurship-Focused Socio-Emotional Skills For the Most Vulnerable Youth in Rural Mongolia" since 2020 in Khovd, Zavkhan, Uvurkhangai, Gobisumber, and Sukhbaatar provinces. In Shivee-Gobi soum of Gobisumber province, the ESEL program has been effectively implemented as part of the project. The ESEL program graduates have implemented 12 small-scale projects. "Our crafts" is one of the initiatives, and this narrative will discuss the project and its success story in greater detail.
How did you come up with the project idea?
Nowadays, children spend more time on digital devices and online, and their creativity, innovative thinking, and ability to work independently has diminished. Compared to children in urban areas, children in rural areas have fewer opportunities for personal growth. There are fewer venues to spend leisure time, fewer extracurricular activities, and fewer places where friends may spend quality time together. Conquer team members and students from Shivee-Gobi School in the province of Gobisumber identified the problems. As a result, they prepared their project proposal to provide an environment for senior and junior students, as well as peers, to spend their leisure time productively by making crafts, learning arts, studying independently, enhancing their focus on studying, and developing their right and left brains through sketching.
However, they fell short of their objective. In 2021 Pitch, their proposal was turned down. However, they consistently made improvements to their budget, strategy, and baseline in order to achieve their target. They successfully applied for funds to launch their business in 2022 and were accepted. Apart from the demands of the youth in their soum, they contemplated using internal resources to carry out the project. Team members Iderjavhlan and Sergelen are talented and enthusiastic about arts and crafts. The aspect had a favorable impact on the development and implementation of the project idea.
What kind of products are produced as a result of project implementation?
Iderjavkhlan and Sergelen have a passion for the arts and have self-taught themselves how to sketch, draw portraits, write calligraphy, and more from family members, professionals, and YouTube. While Uyanga is in charge of communications, including creating video content, posters, and commercials, Erhemjargal is in charge of paperwork, planning, and administration. The entire team works well together and supports one another.
Their first order was to create an address board for American Store. This was very critical to their future business and performance while also making them frightened and thrilled. The first customer was really pleased with the order and paid 40000 tugrug (Mongolian National Currency equivalent to 11$). It was their first income from the project, and it was an incredible moment.
They have partnered with other teams such as "Child Development Center" and "Bilingually," as advised by Bayartsetseg, a trainer and mentor. Through fruitful discussion and friendly competition, they were able to learn with and from one another, boosting skills and personal growth.
"Our crafts" initiative also provides extracurricular arts activities for students at their school, as well as organizing numerous events for families, friends, and organizations, as well as hosting art exhibitions. Clients can learn about the arts and participate in art displays at these events. For example, as a family, you can arrange an art exhibition, have a vibrant conversation, spend quality time together, and create memories.
