Q: Please introduce yourself. How did you participate in the Project?

My name is Lkhanaasuren. I’m a resident of the 9th khoroo of Songinokhairkhan district. After reading information about the project "Enhancing Youth-Led Engagement for Creating an inclusive and Livable City in Ulaanbaatar Ger Areas", I applied to participate in the "Youth Ambassador Program" and was invited for an interview. 11 of those who competed were selected and participated in the project. I am one of them. The participants of the project received training in 5 subject areas and there was the sixth and final combined module. 

Q: The main part of the program was training. Were the trainings useful and rewarding?

All of the courses we took were beneficial. There were so many things I didn't know about when I was introduced to during the training including the projects being implemented in the Ger neighborhood with Asian Development Bank funding. I learned about the existence of a "Selbe" sub-center, similar to "Bayankhoshuu," and the Ulaanbaatar implementing agencies. The Sustainable Development Goals were the next training topic. Not everyone involved was fully aware of these. Personal development was also included in the curriculum package. This included approaches to problems, determining the root cause of problems, and so on. For example, Ulaanbaatar's air pollution could be seen as a cause or a symptom; or there is a symptom within the problem that leads to the consequences. We learned to distinguish aspects of a problem and come to a conclusion. All participants have benefited from learning this.

Q: Youth from various committees took part in the "Youth Ambassador Program." What subject’s attendees agree on in general? Is there a specific example?

A common issue we face is littering on public roads and land. If we focus on these issues and influence others, air and soil pollution would be reduced to some extent. Everyone agreed that the selfish notion of "as long as my yard is clean, the streets don't matter" needed to change. The program's participants will make demands, influence others, speak up, make people understand, and demonstrate through their actions. There are 11 youth urban leaders, many youth urban ambassadors, and many people supporting them; I believe they will correct their own mistakes and influence others.

Q: What has changed in you since you started participating in the program?

After participating in the "Youth Urban Leader" program, I realized for me personally, "I must participate, I must become involved". I used to discuss with my close friends the problems I was facing on the street and in my neighborhood. Following the training, I felt strongly that I should be socially active and responsible, and that I should collaborate with the committee and the district. Even after the project ended, the participants are still trying to make a difference in the lives of others, to enact what you believe is correct. Behind each of these 11 young leaders, 2-3 friends have learned that "such centers exist in Bayankhoshuu and Selbe, where they can study and work”. Several of my friends, for example, have learned such information.

Q: The Youth Urban Ambassadors were trained by the program's 11 Youth Urban Leaders. Could you please elaborate?

The "Youth Urban Leaders" divided up the training modules and trained the youth in the "Youth Ambassador Program." This program's goal was to increase meaningful participation by youth, develop their soft skills, continue advocacy activities, and conduct a youth situational analysis by surveying youth living in their neighborhoods. We held trainings at the business incubators "Bayankhoshuu" and "Selbe." "I just found out that there is such a center here," the youths who took part in the training told us. From their responses, I realized that youth are not very well informed.

Q: What do you believe youth are lacking? Please elaborate what should be made?

Young people have a lot of ideas and solutions. However, we are not well informed about where and how to begin to implement them, and many obstacles are encountered in the process. I leave things as they are for these reasons, and I forget about the issues because I have to work. I believe that if all permits and requests were electronic in the future, more youth would put their innovative ideas into action. Mongolian youth elect their government, but they do not monitor it or demand accountability, but simply leave it as it is. But after making a decision, youth should participate intelligently and demand that they take responsibility for their actions.