When I was pregnant, Ariunjargal was the first person to help me. I’m really happy with the USAID funded Fostering an Inclusive Environment for Local Disabled(FIELD) project.-Orkhontamir with her son Davaadulam, (photo credit) Alexander Sacharow

Success Story

One day in 2009 a nurse called Ariunjargal heard about an initiative funded by FIELD. Local volunteers were to be selected and trained to give emotional and physical support to families with disabled children. Suddenly the nurse remembered a lovely quiet girl who was born deaf and mute. She just had to apply.

That girl is now 24 years old and life has not been good to her. Orkhontamir’s mother died, her father is an alcoholic and she was facing the hardships of solo motherhood with no guidance or role model. The serious disability of deafness had crippled her terribly.

Orkhontamir was 5 months pregnant when Ariunjargal met her but had never visited a doctor. Orkhontamir avoided being in public as much as possible because she was a pregnant single woman and afraid of the doctor and helped her to prepare for the birth. The visits to the doctor may have saved her life: Orkhontamir had problems with her hips and needed an elective caesarian surgery.

Her beautiful baby boy was born safely but Orkhontamir had no-one to teach her how to be a Mom. The isolation from deafness limited support from her community and created many practical difficulties. Ariunjargal learnt to communicate with Orkhontamir using basic sign language and via text messages.

FIELD had provided invaluable training for Ariunjargal who gives great advice about motherhood. She also organizes additional benefits available for people with disabilities, like a monthly issued food card. Even though the official program is about to end, Ariunjargal has become a real friend.

FIELD

Funded by USAID, Fostering an Inclusive Environment for Local Disabled enhances the ability of people with a disablity to enjoy equal access to social, economic and political opportunities.