ADRA Boosts Youth Well-being to Halt Rising Lifestyle Diseases in Mongolia

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is spearheading NextGen CELEBRATIONS!, a groundbreaking youth health program in Mongolia, in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Health Ministries Department and Loma Linda University School of Public Health (LLU SPH). ADRA is showcasing this project in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, which each May aims to enhance the mental health of adolescents while tackling the increasing risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and hypertension.

“Partnering with ADRA allows us to extend the church’s health message far beyond the walls of a clinic or congregation,” said Zeno L. Charles-Marcel, General Conference director of Health Ministries. “By working together with ADRA and Loma Linda University, we are combining frontline service with academic rigor to deliver evidence-based, culturally relevant interventions. This collaboration helps us reach entire communities worldwide, but especially young people. When we guide children and adolescents in making positive lifestyle choices early on, we lay the foundation for long-term well-being. It’s a powerful model of what can be achieved when mission, compassion, and true science work hand in hand.”

ADRA’s NextGen CELEBRATIONS! provides youth aged 12-15 with the education, resources, and supportive environment to address risk behaviors contributing to long-term health threats, including poor diet, lack of exercise, inadequate hydration, tobacco and alcohol use, and growing concerns about mental health and bullying.

Data-Driven, Community-Led

ADRA Mongolia and Loma Linda University collaborated with the Mongolia Mission Seventh-day Adventist Church (MM) and the nation’s Ministry of Health to engage students, parents, schools, clinics, and local businesses. More than 4,000 people participated in the program to develop culturally relevant interventions. Key findings included low fruit and vegetable consumption, limited physical activity, rising concerns around youth mental health, and growing use of alcohol and tobacco.

“We collected what is called a KAP survey (knowledge, attitude, and practice), which asked students about their current practices and understanding. When you’re young, you don’t care if you drink a soda every day of the week, because you’re not going to get diabetes tomorrow, or it’s not going to be that big of a deal if you have this candy bar today, but if you have one every day for the next 10 years, then that’s going to create problems for the person, right? So getting the youth to have this knowledge and awareness so that they can have well-being later in their life is very important,” shared Monita Baba Djara, program director for Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health Global Health. “We’ve learned that we are catching students at a good age. With this kind of partnership, we can actively see the results of the data, because it’s impacting or influencing the implementation of a program.”

NextGen CELEBRATIONS! Core Pillars

The initiative focuses on six foundational pillars that empower adolescents with the tools and support to live healthier lives and prevent noncommunicable diseases. They are:

• Choice: Encourages youth to make informed decisions about diet, screentime, sleep, and substance use, emphasizing the impact of daily habits on long-term health.

• Exercise: Promotes fun, age-appropriate physical activity to combat sedentary behavior, with programs embedded in both school and home settings.

• Temperance: Teaches avoidance of harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol, fostering self-control and healthy alternatives.

• Optimism: Cultivates emotional resilience and a hopeful mindset through peer support, wellness clubs, and activities that build purpose and positivity.

• Nutrition: Promotes the daily intake of fruits and vegetables and reducing sugar consumption through cooking events, breakfast programs, and health education.

• Social Support: Strengthens emotional well-being by addressing bullying, stress, and loneliness through peer-led conversations, health clubs, and strong family-school networks.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Students involved in the program are already noticing positive changes. “I’ve started eating healthy and reduced my screentime. I used to be on my phone eight hours a day—now it’s significantly less,” said eighth grader Nandin-Erdene. “I started to see things from a different perspective. Before, I couldn’t control my anger. Now I can control my emotions,” added Ninjin, an eighth grader from Tusgal School.

The original version of this story was posted by ADRA International.