Yaks, gers, camels, chores, and school — all part of daily life for 12-year-old Dulamsuren, a World Vision sponsored child in Mongolia.
To get to her home, you have to drive a long way through the Mongolian countryside …
… past eagles …
… and camels …
… stallions and mares …
… and herds of yaks …
… and then you’ll meet Dulamsuren, a 12-year-old sponsored child.
This is her family, from left to right: her dad, Boldbaatar; Dulamsuren; mom, Dolgosuren; grandmother, Surenkhorloo; and brother, Baasanjav. The family is nomadic herders in Mongolia’s vast steppes.
Several years ago, the family woke up after a terrible blizzard and found most of their animals frozen to death. World Vision came and brought them 20 sheep, provided by generous donors through the World Vision Gift Catalog.
Now, when they go to sleep at night in their ger (tent) …
… they wake up at sunrise surrounded by their hundreds of sheep, goats, yak, and horses.
Taking care of all the animals keeps Dulamsuren’s family busy.
Dulamsuren starts each morning helping milk the goats …
… caring for the yaks …
… and milking them too.
The milk is churned into butter …
… and then dried to eat and sell.
Other chores include fetching water with her grandmother.
One of Dulamsuren’s extra-special friends is World Vision’s Nasanbayar, the staff member who helped the family get the 20 sheep.
Nasanbayar loves to help Dulamsuren milk the goats …
… and helps her carry the heavy pails …
… back to the family’s ger.
They like to play a game called shagai (ankle bones) together …
… and Nasanbayar helps Dulamsuren braid her hair.
But they especially like to look over Dulamsuren’s “dream book” …
… where she writes that she wants to become a teacher someday.
And she can. Dulamsuren’s future is bright and secure — just like her warm winter deel, lined with wool from the sheep World Vision provided for her family.
