When you first meet Altangerel, you can hardly believe that this happy, healthy seven-year-old boy could not walk and was severely malnourished only four years ago. Today, he is a picture of perfect health as he effortlessly runs around gathering together his father’s herd.
Altangerel has been sponsored by World Vision since 2002, something that has changed his and his father’s life dramatically. “Before Altangerel was involved in the Child Sponsorship Program he did not sleep well, his body was very weak and he often cried, and didn’t want to play with other children,” recallsDemberel, Altangerel’s father.
“Now I can see that my son has a very bright future ahead of him. My son’s face is aglow with excitement.”
As part of the Child Sponsorship Program, Altangerel took part in World Vision’s Summer Health Strengthening Programme. The programme is designed to help children who are malnourished, anaemic and suffering from rickets.
As part of the health strengthening program, children are provided with good food and nutrition supplements to help them gain weight, usually between 0.5-1.5 kilograms.
Their parents are also trained in childhood nutrition, symptoms and treatment of anaemia, rickets and malnutrition, and the prevention of common childhood diseases.
Since the camp, Altangerel's increased weight and strength has helped him stay healthy, even during the freezing Mongolian winters.
“I also like summer because it is nice and warm. In winter my hands and ears get very cold,” he says.
Altangerel now attends school and studies very hard. His favourite subject is mathematics and he enjoys drawing sunsets and his ‘ger’ (traditional Mongolian house).
He has received other essential items from the sponsorship program, such as clothing, medical check-ups and medicine, and school materials such as stationery, a uniform and bag when he began first grade.
Wrapped up in his traditional Mongolian ‘Del’ (a wrap-around coat) with yellow embodied patterns and a colourful orange sash, Altangerel beams while he talks about his life now.
“During my holidays I like to herd my father’s goats, and when I grow up I would like to be a carpenter who makes tables and shelves,” he says.
