Safe and Warm This Winter!

Bataar and her family live in Mongolia, where the winter weather can be brutal. But thanks to your support, they now have warm coats and blankets to keep them safe.

Bataar is a young child who lives with her two siblings and parents in Mongolia. Her father worked as a factory assistant, but because of a work accident in 2020, he was unable to keep his job. Bataar’s parents receive food stamps and a child support allowance from the Mongolian government, but it’s still not enough to make ends meet. So each day, they go to a large garbage dump near their home outside Ulaanbaatar, the nation’s capital, and spend the day combing through refuse. They look for items they can either resell or recycle to create an income — or use for their own personal survival.

Beyond these hardships, Bataar and her family live in a ger, a portable, tent-like structure that typically consists of a wooden frame covered in animal hide and an additional layer of canvas that offers protection against the elements. But winter in Mongolia can be brutally cold, with icy winds that whip off the Siberian Plain and nighttime temperatures that drop frequently to below -20°F. These conditions make life even harder — and colder — for Bataar, her siblings and parents.

Thanks to the generosity of Holt donors and sponsors, Bataar and her family have been given a source of comfort and warmth.

But thanks to the generosity of Holt donors and sponsors, Bataar and her family have been given a source of comfort and warmth. Now enrolled in Holt’s family strengthening program, Bataar and her older sibling attend school near their home. In addition, the family has received a cold weather rescue pack, with snuggly blankets and warm winter coats for the children. The rescue pack provides lifesaving support when the wind chill picks up at night and when Bataar and her sibling make the trek to school each day. 

In many parts of the world — like Mongolia, China or even Cambodia — winter weather can be brutal, and children like Bataar run the risk of missing school, getting sick or even coming down with frostbite. But thanks to your support, this little girl and her family, and others around the world, will stay safe and warm this winter!