Nutrition transforms a little life
By Enkhbayar Purevjay, World Vision Mongolia

In an eastern suburb of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, lives Gantsetseg, a little girl and her big family.

Like other three-year-olds, Gantsetseg loves painting, playing and is fond of being the centre of attention. But unlike other children, Gantsetseg suffers from rickets, a bone-deforming disease caused by malnourishment.

Apart from having a physical disability, Gantsetseg was also abandoned by her mother when she was only eight months old. To the little girl, the only mother she knows is her grandmother.

When World Vision first met Gantsetseg, she had a deformed ankle and was unable to stand by herself. Even though her family knew she was malnourished, they could not do anything for her as her father was physically disabled and her grandmother was a street sweeper earning a minimum wage. The whole family spent days without food because they did not have enough money.

Through World Vision’s assistance, Gantsetseg was given nutritional supplements, vitamin D and iron tablets to treat her condition. As time went by, visible results began to show. In just one year, Gantsetseg could stand up by herself and even learned to walk.

Learning to walk has given the little girl greater self-confidence, self-esteem and joy. Although the family is still poor, Gantsegseg now believes with a childlike optimism and trust that a bright future awaits them – all because she can finally walk!

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Because of Child Sponsorship, children like Gantsetseg have access to the basics of life such as nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, education and economic opportunities. Click here to sponsor a child now.