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About Women’s & Adolescents’ Reproductive Empowerment (AWARE)

Implementation date:

A staggering number of women and adolescents in Mongolia have difficulty in achieving reproductive health due to financial shortfalls, insufficient sex-ed, and weak overall health systems. It is estimated that Mongolia has 3,500 teenage pregnancies per year, roughly 14% of pregnant teenage girls undergo abortions, and more than one-third of contagious disease cases are related to STDs. These statistics illustrate sexual and reproductive health services in Mongolia are failing to provide knowledge they need to lead reproductively healthy lives. In response, the AWARE project is aiming to improve the community by collaborating with key stakeholders to integrate comprehensive sex-ed into schools — a critical step for ensuring the next generation leads a safe and secure life. The project is also aiming to empower both girls and boys by reducing the stigmas and taboos associated with discussing menstruation and sexual health, enabling them to approach 8. 

sex-ed more comfortably and candidly. 

Target group: Women & Adolescents 

Proposed solution: Delivering accessible sex-ed information through social media, collaborating with administrative-level stakeholder (Ministry of Education and Science) to determine shortfalls and necessary improvements in sex-ed taught in Mongolian high schools, aiming to ultimately achieve greater developmental impact in policy. 

Social media: Instagram – @aware_mgl 

Short-term goals/results: In the short-term, the project aims to target young audiences to deliver more focused and accessible sex-ed information through online platforms on topics such as prevention of STDs, unwanted pregnancy, and contraceptive methods. 

Long-term change: In the longer term, the project aims to create an enabling environment that includes policies, regulations and funding to support and sustain comprehensive sexuality education at local level.


Others

Global Shapers Ulaanbaatar Hub – Annual Report 2024-2025

Dear Hub Members and Friends,

We set out on our Curatorship term with the objective of making our Hub more inclusive and diverse, and creating an enabling environment where our Shapers could effectively collaborate to make our city of Ulaanbaatar healthier, greener, and more equitable.

We began the Curatorship term by redefining Ulaanbaatar Hub’s vision and mission through a co creation workshop to construct statements that serve as stronger guiding principles for addressing pressing local challenges. Our updated vision is “to be a thriving community of young changemakers to shape a sustainable and vibrant Ulaanbaatar.” Our mission has become “to drive creative, innovative, and inclusive solutions through community development projects and advocacy for effective policies.”

To implement our mission, we welcomed a record number of 12 new Shapers through our annual recruitment cycle, bringing our 2024-2025 community to 30 active members. With expertise ranging from law and finance to social entrepreneurship and activism, our Shapers represent over 11 diverse sectors. To ensure a smooth transition into the Hub, we introduced a multi-month, phased onboarding process. We also introduced a policy to reduce potential financial barriers to membership fees.

This was a critical year for our projects. Two of our projects, Ulaanbaatar Oasis and UBeSafe, formally registered as non-profits, reflecting the significance of the issues they address. They will remain a part of the Hub’s roster of projects that Shapers champion, and we’re excited to see their capacity to sustain long-term impact grow as stand-alone organizations. Our other projects grew, shifted, and expanded as well, and you’ll have the opportunity to read more about them in this report.

We’ve organized a number of events to improve engagement between current Shapers and alumni, recognizing the importance of intergenerational knowledge sharing and collaboration. We’re also proud that our Shapers attended numerous high-level international and regional events representing the Ulaanbaatar Hub and youth, from the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting (Davos) to the Global Shapers Community’s Asia-Pacific region’s largest event, SHAPE APAC. We spoke at high-level panels and presented our community projects on global stages.

This year would not have been possible without your engagement, trust, and collaboration–thank you. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Curatorship Team. We are excited to pass the baton to the incoming 2025-2026 Curatorship, who we are confident will continue to make the Hub more vibrant, more representative, and impactful.

The 2024-2025 Curatorship Team

To download: Global Shapers Ulaanbaatar Hub – Annual Report 2024-2025


Implementation date:

Manul’s Smile (Мануулын инээмсэглэл)

A children’s mindfulness and emotional well-being initiative by the Global Shapers Ulaanbaatar Hub.

Stay tuned — information on how to purchase is coming soon!

Overview

Manul’s Smile (Мануулын инээмсэглэл) is a children’s picture book designed to introduce 4–8-year-olds to mindfulness, emotional regulation, and simple breathing techniques. The story is inspired by Mongolia’s wildlife and landscapes, using familiar animals to teach calming practices in a relatable way.

The book includes guided exercises for children, practical tips for parents and teachers, and a dedicated section about the Manul (Pallas’s cat). All content is reviewed by a child psychologist, wildlife biologist, and editor.

Why This Project Matters

  • Childhood stress and anxiety levels are rising across Mongolia.
  • Many households, especially in rural areas, have limited access to children’s books.
  • Emotional regulation skills are not widely taught at an early age.
  • The story features Manul, a wild cat native to Mongolia that faces declining numbers and habitat pressure. By using the Manul as the book’s main character, the project helps raise public awareness about this species

Manul’s Smile (Мануулын инээмсэглэл) provides an accessible, culturally rooted tool to help children understand their emotions and learn how to calm their minds.

What the Book Teaches

  • Balloon breathing
  • Wind breathing
  • Safe-space visualization
  • Naming and recognizing emotions
  • Mindful attention through storytelling

Each technique is introduced by Mongolian animal characters.

How You Can Support

  • Share the book with families, kindergartens, or educators
  • Spread awareness about children’s mental health
  • Participate in our community outreach

Sponsors: Interstandard Brewery LLC, Bi Ba Bodol.


Implementation date: Since 2024