Each September in Mongolia, the air is filled with excitement as students return to school—including the youngest learners in kindergarten, ages two to five. This year, many of those children will enjoy improved mealtimes thanks to new kitchen equipment donated by Deseret International Charities (DIC), sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The initiative, launched in 2022, aims to provide under-resourced kindergartens with modern kitchen equipment. In just three years, more than 200 schools across the country have benefited. The most recent donation went to five kindergartens in Ulaanbaatar’s Khan-Uul District, where 70 pieces of equipment were delivered.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Mr. Bat-Orgil Chuluunbaatar, Head of Khan-Uul District Council, accepted the donation on behalf of the schools and expressed gratitude for the continued partnership. “We are extremely appreciative of the donations from DIC, whom we have partnered with in the past,” he said. “Our province is growing rapidly—our population has nearly doubled in the past eight years—and at times our infrastructure struggles to keep pace. This support for our kindergarten students will greatly benefit our children.”
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Mr. Bat-Orgil and DIC Volunteer J.D. Rottweiler discuss the donations. 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Representatives from each kindergarten attended the ceremony, including one from the 49th Kindergarten of Ulaanbaatar. The school recently completed a new building to accommodate its growing student body of 360, but its kitchen was left empty. Thanks to the donation, that problem is now solved.
“We are so grateful for this donation,” said Gantsetseg, the school’s director. “Good food is critical for children’s physical and mental growth, as well as their ability to learn. Having a properly equipped kitchen ensures our children receive the nutrition they need to grow healthy.”
At the 49th Kindergarten, children are served breakfast, a light lunch, lunch, and dinner each day. Beyond providing nourishment, mealtimes help students develop social skills as they sit, share, and talk with their classmates. “Meal time is a very social time that the students love,” Gantsetseg added.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The kitchen equipment project is part of a five-year effort by DIC, with one year still remaining. According to DIC Director Pujee, the organization is eager to continue supporting Mongolia’s children. “It is such a joy to see the excitement on the staff’s faces as their new equipment arrives,”she said. “Our volunteers love making a difference in the lives of students in Mongolia.”