The kindergartens in 19 soums of ten aimags where the
winter was most harsh have now closed for the coming winter after working for
55 days from June, when they were started to serve 380 children between 2 and 6
years. The project was funded by UNICEF and the Government of Brazil and implemented
jointly by the Ministries of Education, Culture and Science, and Health. The
goal was to provide education and health support to children most affected by
the last dzud.

UNICEF recently took a team of journalists to Bogd soum
of Bayankhongor aimag,700 km from Ulaanbaatar, and the site of one of these ger
kindergartens. The soum has more than 3,000 people, a hospital and an 11-year
secondary school, where children from neighboring soums also come. It has
24-hour electricity, and has small enterprises such as bakery, carpentry, brick
making, and block factories. The herders here did not suffer much during the
last winter but the spring weather led to their loss of livestock. This summer
the temperature rose to 43 degrees and the source of the Tuin river, the Orog
lake, was almost dry. But later, three days of good rain changed things and
grass started growing.

The soum Mayor has ordered each household to prepare animal feed and herders
are busy making hay.

During the weather crisis, people and officials were so
worried about the livestock that the plight of the children almost went
unnoticed. One herder’s wife P.Oyunchimeg said the family had five kinds of
animals and a car, but are now left with just about 50 goats. Her husband got a
job and left while she stayed at home with their four children, between 1 and
13. This year the older children could not get place in the school hostel and
are living with relatives.

The soum kindergarten cares for 90 kids in three groups
and the UNICEF kindergarten for 20 children opened on July 28. It helped them
get over malnutrition and anemia and teachers spoke to parents about kids’
development and need for proper nutrition. The parents want the schools to
continue next year.