From Crocheting Bears to Coding Dreams

At just 16 years old, Badamlyankhua (Lyankhua) is already inspiring her peers as a participant of UNICEF’s Girls Code and Young Digital Leaders programmes.

Her journey with technology began at age five, when her family first installed a WiFi at their small home in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. Her mother’s blue Acer laptop quickly became her favorite companion. But what made these early days special was her grandfather. Sitting beside him, she would eagerly explore Google Maps, searching for their house and marveling at seeing their rooftop appear on the screen. While she clicked through the laptop, her grandfather guided her with verbal instructions, encouraging her to be the family’s “tech-savvy one.” Together, they turned curiosity into discovery—and their shared excitement built the foundation of her digital journey. 

By grade 7, YouTube had become her secret teacher. When her Fiber Arts class introduced crocheting, she went beyond the textbook’s basic scarves and hats. Online tutorials showed her how to create animals and bears, fueling her creativity and self-confidence. 

That same spirit of exploration carried her into new opportunities. In grade 10 (2024-2025), her IT teacher—a Digital Community Information Worker (DCIW) trained by UNICEF—encouraged students to become Young Digital Leaders. Out of many applicants, Lyankhua was chosen as one of ten. Together, they went through UNICEF’s five-module training that covered responsible and safe use of the internet—topics like protecting personal information, recognizing online risks, preventing cyberbullying, and using digital tools for learning. Equipped with this knowledge, they began teaching their peers. Lyankhua took the lead in guiding younger students (grades 1–5) on online safety while also helping them navigate the Eduten digital learning platform. 

This experience opened new doors. In 2025, she applied for UNICEF’s Girls Code bootcamp—a nationwide programme designed to empower girls with future-ready skills in technology. Out of 6,000 applicants nationwide, she was selected as one of just 30 girls. Over 2.5 months of living in the dormitory, she not only gained independence but also mastered coding, UX/UI design, English, and even introductory AI concepts. 

For the capstone project, her team—aptly named Chemify—designed an interactive platform to help students memorize chemistry elements through a three-stage method: flashcards, quizzes, and games. Their approach could be adapted beyond chemistry to languages, history, and even music. Lyankhua led the UX/UI design, a role that sparked a new passion. “When I worked on the interface, I realized how much I enjoyed making technology simple and beautiful for others,”she reflects. Lyankhua now dreams of pursuing UX/UI design as her career. “My dream school is MIT,” she says with quiet determination. 

Her story reflects a broader vision. UNICEF is expanding digital and AI education across Mongolia, ensuring that children from both urban centers and remote baghs gain access to future-ready digital and AI literacy. Through Digital Community Information Workers (DCIW) and Girls Code, UNICEF is laying the foundation for a digitally skilled generation—one that is not only prepared to thrive in the digital world, but ready to shape the country’s future.

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This program is supported by UNICEF with the funding support of Maßvoll Stiftung, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg.