Magic Bag: local campaign brings smile to Mongolian children’s faces

Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia – In 2015, while a group of young people was handing out New Year’s gifts to children in ger areas, they discovered the grim conditions that thousands of children are living in.

The scene prompted them to carry out an annual campaign, called “Magic Bag”, where bags are sewn and filled with gifts for children to be distributed on New Year’s Day, targeting vulnerable children.

These young people formed the Lantuun Dohio group to fight against child abuse and human trafficking.

They also launched a fundraising campaign to protect and educate children affected by domestic violence, and have now established “Magic Land I and II” centers in Songinokhairkhan and Bayanzurkh districts of Ulaanbaatar.

In addition, they successfully implemented a nationwide mobile library, to contribute to spreading culture, learning, and entertainment among children, especially in light of the outbreak of Covid and the closures that accompanied it, which prevented children from going out to schools.

Speaking about the advent of the idea, campaign initiator Ch. Ganjavkhlan said it all started with a “very simple enlightened thought” when they realized that many children are deprived of receiving gifts and enjoying their night like others due to difficult living conditions.

Amid fears of facing distribution-related obstacles due to Covid closures, volunteers stressed they have adopted a new methodology this year making it easier to find and access many households.

As a result, through the campaign, volunteers were able to travel to nine provinces, including Ulaanbaatar, Baghangay, Baganur, and Tov Images in four days, delighting more than 8000 children.

Shedding a light on the lack of support, initiators called for providing more assistance to families, especially those living in the open on the outskirts of the city.