New Hope for Single Mothers

In January, Holt partnered with the Princess Center in Mongolia to help the organization expand its services. Now, thanks to your generous support, more young mothers are getting the crucial aid they need.

Tselmeg* is a teenage girl who lives with her family of 10 in a small home in Mongolia. This past January, Tselmeg gave birth to her first child, becoming one of more than 70,000 single mothers in the nation. In 2025 alone, close to 2,000 adolescent girls, between the ages of 15 to 19, became mothers.

Because single motherhood is still stigmatized in Mongolia, girls like Tselmeg are often shunned by their communities, making it difficult for them to get an education or find a job. In a country where nearly one third of the people live in poverty, single mothers — and particularly teen moms — typically lack the resources needed to provide for their children.

A Lifeline for Young Moms

Located in Ulaanbaatar, the Princess Center opened its doors in 2003 to advocate for the rights and well-being of girls and young women across Mongolia. In 2012, the center began its Young Mothers Empowerment Program (YMEP), which offers adolescent mothers a lifeline to, and hope for, the future.

Extending support for up to three years, the YMEP provides the following services, helping young mothers to thrive:

• Baby boxes. Before giving birth, expectant mothers receive a gift box containing essential items needed for childbirth and beyond. Items include diapers, skin care products, baby clothes, swaddling blankets and a baby toy. The baby boxes provide financial and emotional support during a critical time in a young mother’s life.

• Social work services. After birth, mothers enrolled in the YMEP receive postpartum support, childcare education and supplies, and other tools and guidance tailored to their immediate and long-term needs.

• Empowerment training. The YMEP also organizes theme-based training sessions to build the self-confidence of young mothers by providing psychological support and ways to strengthen life skills.

• Vocational training. Through its job skills training efforts, the YMEP encourages teen moms to identify their interests and strengths, then guides them toward suitable careers so they can  achieve financial stability.

• Social events. Because young mothers often feel socially isolated, the YMEP provides enjoyable community events and summer trips that offer peer support.

Holt’s Partnership Begins

The Princess Center is the only non-governmental organization in Mongolia to provide support to adolescent mothers, who remain an underserved population.

In 2022, several Holt team members — including Paul Kim, Holt’s director of Korea and Mongolia programs — visited the center for the first time and were impressed by the work being accomplished there. In January 2026, Holt began partnering with the Princess Center, by initially providing funding to meet the need for additional baby boxes.

Now, thanks to your generous support, our team in Mongolia is helping the Princess Center expand its other services, delivering crucial care — from prenatal support to job assistance — to more young mothers in need. Speaking to this effort, Paul says: “Every child deserves to grow up in a loving family. The best way to ensure this is to empower mothers to gain the knowledge, skills and tools they need to create and maintain a stable, secure home. In doing so, not only will a mother grow and thrive, but so will her child — not just today but for the rest of their lives.”

Crucial Support for Tselmeg

Holt’s partnership with the Princess Center is its latest initiative in Mongolia, but your support has long funded family strengthening programs across the country. Last October, Holt staff and eight dedicated donors embarked on a vision trip to visit some of those programs. They traveled to places like the Red Stone School, an informal school founded in 2016 to support impoverished families living in and near Ulaanbaatar’s largest garbage dump; the Joyful Palace, a program that provides holistic support to children with disabilities and their families; and to northern Mongolia, where Holt’s family strengthening programs have long provided assistance to herding families continuing a traditional way of life.  

As for the Princess Center, Tselmeg is already reaping the benefits of its many services, now supported by Holt. Shortly after giving birth, Tselmeg received a baby box package and baby clothing, as well as psychosocial support. She also received help in obtaining a birth certificate for her child and opening a bank account into which she can deposit child benefits.

Moving forward, Tselmeg will enroll in support groups through the YMEP, where she will be able to connect with other young mothers facing similar challenges. And, thanks to your support, Tselmeg will have access to education and employment opportunities that will help her achieve greater self-reliance and a better quality of life. “Despite coming from difficult circumstances, these mothers are coming to us for help — not only for themselves, but because of their love for their children,” says Paul. “They desperately want the best for them, and Holt, in partnership with the Princess Center, wants to be there for mothers at a time when they need us most.”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy