Beyond borders: The kindergarten that brings children together

“Our kindergarten may be small, but it is still very nice to me. Every morning, as the sun rises, I go there with a happy face" says 5-year-old Manlai with a bright smile.

Manlai lives with his parents in the border control unit community of Dornod province, a remote rural area more than 1 000 kilometers from the capital city of Mongolia. His parents work at the border control unit, and conveniently, his kindergarten is located within the same compound. So, every day, he goes with his mom and dad to their workplace and heads off to his own “job”—learning and playing with his friends.

“Our family members all work together within the same compound,” says Manlai. “Both my father and mother work there, and I also have a role because my kindergarten is located there. I have many friends at kindergarten, and I particularly love learning math”.

“Junior Border Guards" kindergarten represents an innovative example of an on-site childcare facility. 

In 2023, the “Junior Border Guards” kindergarten opened its doors, based on a partnership between UNICEF and the General Authority of Border Protection. Now, 50 little learners, between the ages of 3 and 5, including Manlai and his friends have a place that they call their kindergarted.

UNICEF is constantly expanding its partnerships to promote accessible, affordable, and equitable early childhood education (ECE) for children in remote rural areas by collaborating with the Ministry of Education, as well as private and public stakeholders. An innovative example of this collaboration is the establishment of on-site kindergartens such as this one. The initiating organization of the on-site kindergarten covers the initial setup costs with support from UNICEF, while the government provides ongoing operational funding. 

Moreover, UNICEF provides technical support for implementing the national preschool education curriculum and collaborates with the government initiative on Digital Education by introducing tablet-assisted learning tools into daily activities at the Junior Border Guards kindergarten. 

Manlai’s father says, “Though we live in a remote rural area, we experience a sense of belonging like that of a large family. The kindergarten holds significant importance within our family".

Manlai's mother adds, "We are all happy that the border control unit has a kindergarten. Because of the nature of our work, my husband and I sometimes work long hours and are away from home for several days on assignment. Since the new kindergarten has started operating, I feel relieved and I am able to focus on my work knowing that my son is in a professional, warm and clean environment with access to quality food and drinks. Moreover, he is learning and playing with other children joyfully”.

The Junior Border Guards kindergarten serves as a good example of an on-site kindergarten, showcasing an innovative alternative for ECE services in remote rural communities. This model is developed through the active participation of various stakeholders.