Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - On Friday April 8, 2016, an Open Day Event will take place at the Youth Development Center , 2nd floor, Branch No. 2 of Natsagdorj Library, Jargalant Convenience Center, in the Khan-Uul district. The event aims to welcome the community's youth and various local stakeholders. Notably, the Honourable Member of Parliament Mr. L.Bold will be in attendance - his investment and commitment to reinventing the Library, to better serve and benefit the youth of the community is in full alignment with UNFPA's Youth Development programme. Thus, the evolution of the Library to a full-fledged YDC.

The Youth Development Center (YDC) in Khan-Uul District is just one of 16 in the country. The establishment of YDCs is a major component of the Youth Development Project, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Government of Luxembourg, and UNFPA. It is jointly implemented by the Government of Mongolia and UNFPA.

Because UNFPA and its partners recognize the immense potential of young people in society as future leaders of Mongolia, the YDCs were established to help young people reach their potential, and to help them become responsible, productive citizens who can make a positive contribution to their community and country. The YDCs provide training opportunities to acquire relevant life and job skills; career planning guidance, counselling in sexual and reproductive health; and other services that enable young people to meaningfully participate in determining their own futures and improve their quality of life - all the while in a fun, safe and friendly atmosphere where they can meet and learn alongside their peers.

"UNFPA believes that investing in young people is a quick-win: the youth benefit by improving the quality of their lives and the country benefits by ensuring that its future leaders are responsible, productive and positive citizens, " says Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative. "Our experience shows the success of YDCs is due to the ownership and involvement of young people themselves in the YDC operations. For that reason, the youth Panel composed of energetic young people has been established, and young people are the center of the YDC activities. We hope that local government and members of the community will encourage this, and support them by giving time to listen to their concerns and ideas. Together, we can work to ensure that the youth of the country will fulfill their potential with the help of YDCs."

The Open Day event promotes the activities of the Youth Development Center (YDC) of Khan-Uul district amongst the community's youth as well as the public. It will also mark the official transfer of titles for equipment and furniture donated to the YDC as part of the framework of Youth Development Project in a signing ceremony with UNFPA, and representatives of the State and local government.

The day's programme will include opening remarks from the Honourable Member of Parliament Mr. L.Bold and Mr. D.Ankhbayar, Vice Governor, Khan-Uul District. Project stakeholders in attendance and featured in the programme include Ms. G.Narangerel, State Secretary, MoPDSP; Mr. Markus Waldvogel, SDC Director of Cooperation and the Consul General of Switzerland; and Ms. Naomi Kitahara, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), respectively. It also promises a lecture on youth participation and rights; a presentation from the youth themselves, members of the Y-Peer club members of from Bayangol, Chingeltei and Khan-Uul districts; and various entertaining performances.

About UNFPA (www.mongolia.unfpa.org)UNFPA is the UN agency delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA Mongolia currently implements the 5th Country Programme 2012-2016, closely in line with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Mongolia.