Living On Purpose: March 2015

March 30, 2015

Peace Corps Passport Feature!

Click here: D1 College Basketball Player to Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteer

March 27, 2015

Govi-Altai UNFPA Youth Development Center

As a 3rd year Peace Corps Mongolia service extension volunteer, the goal of my work at the Govi-Altai Youth Development Center, is to assist UNFPA and the Government of Mongolia in building the resilience of underserved youth by reducing their vulnerability in the face of rapid social and economic change. The project primarily focuses on youth in mining areas, young men and women in urban areas that act as feeder hubs for the mining industry, and UNFPA’s focus provinces in the west.

Over the past year a total of 12 youth development centers have opened nationwide. The centers aim to enhance the life skills of youth and young adults ages 15-35, which will in turn equip them with the ability to claim their rights and exercise their civic responsibilities. The life skills program includes targeted gender based violence prevention education, for youth, as well as educators. Youth friendly sexual reproductive health services, all of which emphasize outreach to young men and women. Youth development centers serve as a delivery vehicle for all project services, and also offers a range of skills development services, such as career planning, and healthy leisure activities.

Prior to working at the YDC I had worked with closely with the UNFPA Govi-Altai SRH project officer Bayanjargal Duger, teaching life skills to youth in the countryside. At the provincial Children’s Department, I’d worked to established a social integration and education program for youth with disabilities living in Govi-Altai. My work with these organizations led to my opportunity to work at the YDC, and I’m grateful for the chance to continuing building my relationship with these organizations.

Goal of the Govi-Altai YDC:
Young men and women with strengthened life skills for positive, responsible and self-reliant behavior.

Expected Outcomes:
Increased availability of life skills education for young men and women.
Gender based violence prevention model institutionalized and capacity of educational staff built to reduce gender based violence and foster positive gender relations.
Improved and extended provision of youth friendly sexual reproductive health services.
Policies, behavior change communications and advocacy in place to address youth issues.

Project period:
April 2013-March 2017

Total National Project Budget:
11 millon USD

Under the direct supervision of the national youth development program officer, and Peace Corps Mongolia, I have been tasked with the following duties:

Collaborate with national counterparts of the YDC on implementing community mobilization activities, community based behavioral change communication interventions, life skills based sexual reproductive education, and gender based violence prevention education programs.
Work with national counterparts of the YDC in the development and roll-out of community based activities, interest clubs, trainings, and reach outs to local youths.

Working as a volunteer at the Govi-Altai YDC over the past 7 months has truly been a formative opportunity. I’ve been able to channel my vast experience at site working with youth and counterpart development, towards building the skills and capacity of my counterparts at the YDC. Assisting my counterparts with everything from interior design planning and program development, to marketing, lesson planning, and organizing events has been such a blessed and fulfilling experience.

In addition to life skills, SRH, and GBV prevention trainings, Govi-Altai youth also have the opportunity to participate in the following club activities: Book club, English Club, Dance Club, Movie Club, Debate Club, Guitar Club, Good Fathers Club (a peer support group for young fathers), Hiking Club, Cooking Club, and Fitness Club.

Ribbon Cutting

Our center finally opened 2 weeks ago on Monday March 9th, 2015, after months of planning, budget preparation and looking for a building to house the center. Representatives from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and UNFPA arrived to Altai, to participate in our centers grand opening. Speeches were given by the local vice governor and UNFPA representative. There were also various performances from Govi-Altai youth, and a flash mob dance performed by the Govi-Altai YDC youth council. Seeing both my own ideas, as well as the ideas of my counterparts come to fruition has been worthwhile. The opening of our center was a success, and I look forward to the work that lies ahead during my remaining time in Mongolia.

"Y- Peer" SRH Peer Education Program Meeting

Y-Peer Youth Educators

Govi-Altai YDC Youth Council Meeting

YDC Lounge/Game Room/Library

Opening Day Youth Masters of Ceremonies

Y-Peer and Youth Council

Mongolian "Horse Fiddle" performances

Opening Day group photo

My counterpart Erkhemeh being interview about the opening of our center

Y-Peer meeting

Youth Council

My site mates Lauren and Kiowa, stopping by and showing their support on opening day.

YDC Lounge

Training Room

Counseling Room

UNFPA YDC Program Manager Bataa Chulunbatar giving a speech on opening day.

Mongolian Horse Fiddle Performance to commemorate the opening of our center

March 25, 2015

Winter 2015 Update

Happy Spring! This post is long overdue, but with the recent opening of our youth development center, preparing for the 3rd semester of the disabilities program, and PCVL duties, quite frankly I haven’t had the time to sit down and write. Nevertheless, here is the most recent update of my life in Mongolia. I hope you enjoy.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader, I was called into UB this past December, to assist with the M24 Non-TEFL IST (24th generation Community Youth Development and Health Peace Corps Volunteer’s In Service Training). I primarily supported our staff at headquarters with logistical, and administrative task, as well as facilitating Human Trafficking and Empowering Individuals with Disabilities task force meetings. I thoroughly enjoyed becoming better acquainted with the new volunteers, and was grateful to share my experiences with them as a peer mentor.

UB is always a nice getaway. Living more than 1000 km from the nation’s capital, its nice to visit every so often and take advantage of the modern amenities and treats. I spent my down time before and after the seminar hanging out with friends, watching a few movies such as “Interstellar” at the theatre (great movie by the way), and indulging in my fair share of Indian cuisine. I also played one too many games of Banana Grams, and to say that I am addicted would be an understatement. My love for the game is thankfully shared by PCV friends, so we were able to keep ourselves entertained with round after round of spelling our hearts out. It was pretty intense to say the least.

After the the seminar I participated in a bi-annual volunteer advisory council meeting, hosted by Peace Corps Mongolia. During this meeting the volunteer advisory council or “VAC,” presented various concerns on behalf of the 124 volunteers living in country to Peace Corps Mongolia staff. Issues included everything from volunteer leave and travel policy, to site development and volunteer work reporting. I was in UB for a full 3 weeks, so soon after the VAC meeting was finished, I boarded a flight back to site, and began preparing for Christmas and New Years festivities.

I celebrated Christmas with my site mates at my home. Peace Corps was gracious enough to give each province with volunteers turkeys. So after laboring away all day in the kitchen, we had a wonderful Christmas Day Turkey dinner, with mash potatoes, gravy, salad, and dinner rolls. As always it was nice to spend this very special holiday with fellow Americans.

New Years was incredible. I attended a total of 3 parties, in 1 week. The Children and Families Development Department hosted an office meeting for all of its workers, and a larger more extravagant community party for the children. The Children's party had a rendition of Dr.Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas," dance flash mob, and singing performances. My counterparts and I, hosted a New Years party for the Youth Development Center, and invited young adults ages 18-35 to participate in a night of singing, dancing, eating, and games. All in all, I had a hectic yet joyous end to the 2014 year.

Fast forward to mid-February 2015, and it was time once again to celebrate Tsagaan Sar (“White moon”), the Mongolian lunar new year. This year was the year of the sheep, and would also be my final year celebrating the holiday as a PCV. I went all out, having a new deel (traditional Mongolian garb) and hat made. If you’ve read my previous post about Tsagaan Sar, then you would know that the holiday requires you to visit the homes of friends and family, were you great one another in the traditional Mongolian custom, and eat ALOT of traditional Mongolian food. Since, its my last year living in Altai, I had quite a few houses to visit. I ended up visiting a total of 16 families in 1 week. My counterpart and friend Batbayer, invited me to her home on Tsagaan Sar eve or “Bituun,” to celebrate with her family. It is customary to eat as much as you can on this day, and you typically spend this time with your family. Tsagaan Sar is my favorite holiday, and I hope to bring it back to America, and celebrate it with my friends and family. There are a number of RPCV Mongolia (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) groups in the states that host Tsagaaan Sar parties, so its nice to know that I don’t have to completely retire my deel when I move back.

So there you have it, my last winter in Mongolia as a PCV, which was actually the warmest winter on record! Spring is finally here. The herders are birthing baby sheep, goats, camels, horses, and cows, now that the weather is warming up. The days are getting longer, and the Mongolian parliament has even voted to enact daylight savings, so beginning next weekend (March 28th), Mongolians will set their clocks ahead one hour for the first time in 16 years! Hopefully everyone remembers. My only concern is how will the herders get the memo? Yikes!

As always, I’ve included some photos below.