Just last year, pursuing a future career in computer science seemed almost unreachable for Khaliunaa Batbaatar, a student at Airag Sum Secondary School located in a remote area of Mongolia.
Yet through a recent donation made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Batbaatar has renewed enthusiasm for her “dream of pursuing computer science” when she grows up.
“Last year, I couldn’t study well because our school didn’t have a regular computer teacher,” she said. Yet, “with this (laptop), I promise I will learn diligently this time.”
Like her, hundreds of students benefited from the church’s recent donation, excitedly unboxing the nearly 240 Chromebook laptops donated to 17 schools in the remote region of Sainshand, Mongolia.
Because of the charitable donations made by Latter-day Saints worldwide, “we were able to help these many children — to see smiling faces and the light in their eyes because they are anxious to learn new things,” said Purevjargal Dorj, executive director of the church’s humanitarian initiatives in Mongolia.
The church’s donation of Chromebook laptops was first prompted by a request from Mongolia’s ambassador to the United States, Batbayar Ulziidelger. A friend of Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Mongolian ambassador’s request was facilitated with the help of Elder Andersen.
In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, “they could figure out how to learn English, and they have the tools” necessary, said Elder Andersen, recalling Ulziidelger’s words to him. “But in these provinces,” he continued, “they need help. They need a way to study online. They need electronic features.”
Thus the apostle said the church’s donation has been “a great blessing to so many communities. It is filling a real need.”
Local government leaders and school principals gathered in Sainshand, Mongolia, for a donation ceremony held Sept. 15. Yet the nationwide effort to transform classrooms across Mongolia has been going on since 2023.
By the time the initiative concludes, states a release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, 3,000 Chromebook laptops will have reached 300 schools, “empowering over 100,000 young learners with the tools to dream bigger.”
“We have had less opportunity to align with the modern era, to use a computer and work on our education program,” said Airag Sum Mayor Sukhbaatar Ganbaatar. “We are so grateful for this help and opportunity.”
The donated laptops are helping students learn math, English, information technology and animation, providing them with similar opportunities to students in Mongolia’s major cities, the church’s release states.
“We believe education is the key for success,” Dorj said. “This project helps the children who are living in rural areas get more opportunities to be successful in their lives.”
The schools’ new laptops also represent an investment in Mongolia’s future, expressed Enkhbayar Aruinbayar, director of Airag Sum Secondary School.
“Having these students, who are our future, grow up to be citizens with education and knowledge will prepare them to be the country’s future leaders,” Ariunbayar said.
Tuvshinjargal Gombo, director of the church’s office in Mongolia, added the church’s donation also represents Christ’s love and teachings.
“Jesus Christ told us to take care of others,” she said, “and that’s why it is a really great example of what (church member donations) are doing in Mongolia — showing his love and showing his care, and also showing his sincere heart to the Mongolian people.”
The Church of Jesus Christ and Mongolia
Most recently, Mongolia’s ambassador Ulziidelger — who first prompted the church’s laptop donation — met with the church’s First Presidency, comprised of President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President D. Todd Christofferson.
Their meeting took place in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 22. And at the conclusion of the Mongolian ambassador’s visit to Utah, he attended a dinner hosted by Elder Andersen, whom he began a friendship with in December 2024 when he attended the Washington D.C. Temple’s Festival of Lights as an honored guest.
“May this festival inspire us to continue spreading love and kindness throughout the year and make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place,” the ambassador said at the event.
Two days prior to the ambassador’s recent visit with the First Presidency, Elder Andersen posted on social media about his own visit to Mongolia in September.
“Less than two weeks after I was called as a general authority in April 1993,” the apostle wrote in his Oct. 20 social media post, “Elder Neal A. Maxwell climbed the steps of Zaison Hill and dedicated Mongolia for the preaching of the gospel.
“Now, 32 years later, it is a blessing to witness the blessings of the Lord from that dedicatory prayer. The Kingdom of God is being established and growing in this remarkable land.”
During his September visit to Mongolia, Elder Andersen spread excitement for the future Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temple, which was announced by the late church President Russell M. Nelson in October 2023 to serve the nearly 13,000 Latter-day Saints that reside in Mongolia.
Also while in Mongolia, Elder Andersen visited Buddhist monks, a kindergarten and a family in a traditional Mongolian ger.
