Life before the project started
Before World Vision started the Selenge project, the community lacked safe and potable water, had poor health facilities, food insecurity, low agricultural productivity and high poverty occasioned by low income. With World Vision’s support through sponsorship, communities are now drinking clean water. They also have improved health facilities, and increased levels of income for households due to improved food productivity.
World Vision has strengthened household economic resilience and improved their financial management through facilitating community savings groups to encourage vulnerable families to build regular accumulated savings together. As a result, families, including those with sponsored children, are able to provide for their children and they have increased resilience.
I found out that there is an improvement in the quality of health services and community engagement to use the services as well. For example, I was able to see renovated child friendly spaces in the local health clinics and clinics now have necessary equipment. As a result, the community, especially mothers and children are able to access quick medical attention in comfortable conditions. It is also important to note that communities also made financial contributions to these achievements – as World Vision understands the need to ensure community members are engaged in the change process so they feel they can carry out this change even after World Vision leave.
Communities are now prepared
Environmental disasters are a reality in Mongolia, which is why World vision established a Disaster Risk Reduction program. The Selenge project, where I met Mandukhai cooperated with the Local emergency agency and facilitated earthquake preparedness training for school children and the wider community. As a result, communities, including children, feel they know what to do in case of a disaster.
It was encouraging to witness the change in Mandukhai’s community, I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit her and see firsthand what World Vision is able to achieve because of sponsors like you.