Since my childhood, I have always been passionate about making changes in society. It does not matter which age I was, there was always something that I really wanted to change!
I have a sleeping problem for the last few years. This is not actually the real sleeping problem. It is because I am thinking of implementing too many ideas and projects I want to do for the people. Since my graduation in 2008, I have been involved in so many volunteer works and projects as well and I have been doing many different jobs such as social worker, translator, online English teacher, tour guide, foreign relations, project manager and coordinator, etc. But all these jobs happened to cross the same path “to help vulnerable people and young women in various ways”.
After the 1990s, there was a political transition from Socialism to Democracy in Mongolia, many people lost their jobs and had to survive on their own during this challenging period. I grew up with my father and sister during the 1990s. Struggles were real for my father to raise two little girls while finding a new job. Seeing my father do several jobs at the same time, I always wanted to give him a better life as soon as I graduated my university. Unfortunately, he passed away when I finally completed my university. I have been blaming myself for many years for that occasion and faced lots of challenges. I also found out that I have rheumatoid arthritis which caused me to work from home. I always told myself why all these things happened to me!
Luckily, I was always given an opportunity to do what I wanted. I tell myself that everybody has a problem! Some are just good at hiding it! Then I started encouraging myself to do something valuable for single parents and women from vulnerable groups. There is always brainstorming about what I really need to do! I created a credit union in cooperation with the Belgium Foundation in 2017 to provide financial assistance for young people. After working with a vulnerable group of people, young parents, and orphan kids, I have experienced a lot and helped many people.
I have been involved in many mentorship projects for the last 10 years. Last year, I had an opportunity to be involved in a Professional fellowship program in the USA. It was a wonderful and fruitful experience and I am so grateful that my matching organization was Women of Toledo! I have learned a lot and I found out where I can start! Kicked off my doubt! They inspired me a lot. I can’t wait to do more work, network, connections, and projects in the future.
Interestingly, I really liked the motto of Women of Toledo “Educate, engage and empower!” which suits my own projects perfectly. I will educate teenagers from orphanage centers and vulnerable groups, engage them in social activities and events, and empower them through my mentorship programs and financial organization.
Finally, I would like to say big thanks to the Women of Toledo for helping me to find my purpose in life.
Bolortuya Baatar
Chairman at “Good Partners” Credit Union
Founder at “We Can Change” NGO
Bolortuya Baatar joined our organization in May from Mongolia, with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Professional Fellows Program, which is a large-scale program funded by the U.S. State Department to strengthen emerging leaders and capacity in the nonprofit/NGO sector in various parts of the world. Since childhood, Bolor Baatar has passionately worked to help other vulnerable, orphaned children and teenagers find a better station in life through quality education and employment. In 2017, Bolortuya helped establish the Good Partners Credit Union to provide financial support to vulnerable groups, especially orphans. She hopes to support more teenagers and young adults living in orphanage centers by organizing training courses on financial independence and expanding employment opportunities, among others. While in Toledo, Bolortuya received training and mentorship from our Managing Director, Nina Corder while both learning ways of dialogue and exchange between the peoples of the United States and China.