Only a year after OyuTolgoi, LLCand the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed a joint agreement to establish a Youth Development Center in Khanbogdsoum,Umnugobi, Khanbogd’syoung people are getting involved in their community, discovering their voice, and finding a place to belong.
While in many ways considered remote, Khanbogd soum, a district in Umnogobi province, has seen its population doubled in all but a few years. Thanks to the establishment of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine, about 40km southwest of the Khanbogd town centre, the soum has seen the steady influx of new arrivals, many of them young and of employable age, coming to find work and a place to settle. The billion dollar investment is anticipated to boost the Mongolian economy substantially (by as much as 30% of the GDP) when the mine becomes fully operational in 2018, thus attracting job seekers and their young families.
More than ever, it has become important to focus on Youth Development in this area. According to S.Gantumur, Head of the to the Khanbogd Youth Panel (a consultative group composed of youth sector leaders and volunteers,who articulate the youth agenda to local government, and are responsible for reviewing the YDC work plan and programs) , “ It was only two years ago when I worked at the soum Governor’s office and the population was around 6,100. Nearly 40% of that belonged to the age groups between 15-35, so it was apparent that the youth sector could not be left behind,” he shares. More so now when, as mentioned, the population has increased. “The youth agenda is definitely on the soum Governor’s platform then. Youth initiated and youth-targeted activities are planned yearly and I see them increasing.”
The Youth Development Centre (YDC) in Khanbogd is part of the effort to work alongside and support government towards addressing the needs of Khanbogd’s youth. It was established to provide a venue and opportunities for training and coaching on life-skills; support for young people in developing practical job skills; provide counseling in sexual and reproductive health, education, communication and psychology, while providing a fun, safe atmosphere for local young people.
To date, UNFPA and the Government of Mongolia, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Government of Luxembourg, and Oyu Tolgoi, have established 16 YDCs throughout Mongolia. These YDCs are all working to build a responsible, positive and self-reliant youth population. Notably, the YDC in Khanbogd is the first of its kind in Mongolia, which is a YDC borne out of a partnership between the private sector and UNFPA.
On a recent visit by UNFPA to Khanbogd, Youth Development Program Officers conducted a training workshop with YDC staff, representatives of the Youth Panel and Y-PEER club members on the importance of planning, better planning techniques, the need to anchor programs in the principles of human rights, the YDC vision and how that aligns with the UNFPA mandate to create a world where“every young person’s potential is fulfilled”.
On this visit, we also took the opportunity to have conversations with the youth who work at the YDC, access its services, volunteer as young leaders in both the district’s Youth Panel and YPEER groups, and generally have come to call the YDC their own. We wanted to see how the YDC has affected their lives, that of their peers, their dreams and their aspirations for themselves and for each other.
S.Khaliun is the YDC Coordinator. He joined the YDC only in December last year and though he admits the demands of the job were hard at first, he generally likes working with young people and facilitating the many training opportunities and activities for them through the YDC program. “They have so much energy,” he says, “They make you forget how tired you are.”
B.Enkhjargal, the YDC’s social worker, who provides counseling to youth clients, can only agree. She finds working with the youth inspiring. “I like working with young people, “she shares, “They are so energetic, so creative. They want to build and create things, they have many ideas.”
DREAMING OF BRIGHT FUTURES
She also finds inspiration in young people sharing and nurturing even the most ordinary dreams. “Most young people, they just really aspire for gainful employment and a decent income. For themselves, for their families.”B.Enkhjargal says, “But they also have other dreams. Young people here are discovering they are good at sports, some realize they are good at singing or performing. They dream of succeeding at that too.” B.Enkhjargal confirms that activities related to sports and the arts organized by YDC are part of the services --- but maybe also a means, even for just a moment, for young people to nurture those talents and dreams in a place where opportunities for that are scarce.
As a place so closely identified with mining, it is not surprising that S.Khaliun notes that his peers’ ambitions are tied to Oyu Tolgoi. “They dream of working there,” he says, noting that currently, they commonly fill positions with the company as miners and as drivers of trucks and heavy machinery. He does express hope that young people in Khanbogd may be able to fill other positions within the company in the future, including supervisory roles or those in middle management. In what seems to be preparation for the realization of that hope, the YDC has a Leadership Club for young people in secondary school who train in various skills such as English speaking. The main aim of the club? To produce successful candidates for the much-coveted internships in OyuTolgoi.
LEARNING LIFE SKILLS
Young people have dreams beyond working with OyuTolgoi as well. Gantumur, of the Youth Panel, says. “If you ask them about their dreams, they’ll say they want to go to university, get an apartment, a car –these are all different things, all kinds of success.“He believes however that no matter what you dream of, it takes more than just a BA or a Master’s Degree to achieve real and lasting success in life. How does the YDC help the youth of Khanbogd achieve this? “It’s important to learn various “Life Skills”, “ he says, referring to the soft-skills training opportunities YDCs all over Mongolia are known for. These serve as both a source of guidance and mentorship (especially for underserved youth who may find their current situations lacking in mentors, role models or just learning opportunities.) “You can have a BA or a Masters degree to succeed, sure. But having life skills is just as important.”
At the YDCs across Mongolia, training is offered to develop these life skills through modules that deal with Self Esteem, Communication Skills, Relationships, Emotion, Empathy, Decision making, Stress Management, Planning, Critical thinking, Sexuality, Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Drug Abuse. The emphasis in the process is really on personal values formation, promoting physical and mental well-being, and overall personal and professional development.
PEER SUPPORT
Apart from training and learning opportunities, the YDC is also meant to be a place where the young can socialize in a safe environment, and form among other things, positive connections with their peers.
B.Enkhjargal, mom to a 1 year old daughter herself, leads the Young Mothers’ Support group. The first of its kind in the community made possible through the YDC program. It provides young mothers a venue to convene and commiserate – something others might take for granted, but for moms busy raising children and taking care of husbands, can often be real lifeline.
We meet M.Gerelmaa, L.Tsetsegbadam, and B.Bum-Ayush, all 27 years old, and are stay-at-home moms to young children. “Coming here has really provided me with the opportunity to have friendships,” says Betsegbadam, who is not a native of Khanbogd. Being one of the many transplants from other parts of Mongolia to the mining town who moved with her husband and child, she thinks the support group is important to her life in her new town especially when she arrived and didn’t know anybody.
For B.Bum-Ayush it’s about learning new things. She says, “I like to spend my time productively, even outside the home. Coming here helps me do that.” Group meetings include not only sharing of common problems and solutions that young mothers might face, but there are sometimes new topics introduced related to anything from child-rearing, to home management to self-development.
M.Gerelmaa shared that she’s seen some improvement in herself already. “I’ve learned ways to better manage my time from coming here, “she says of her participation in the group, “For one thing, I can finish the things I’ve started and complete my tasks now!”
GETTING BETTER AT LIFE
Self-improvement seems to be a running theme with YDC’s youth clients. D.Solongo, 14, is an articulate 8th grader who has recently joined the Y-PEER Club. “One of the best things I’ve gained from joining is gaining more self-esteem. I’m more confident now. “she says, “I learned here that I can express myself, communicate well, understand my peers better and therefore influence them more positively.” She reports that life skills training at YDC also has had an immediate effect on fostering closer relationships with her family, and helped improve life at home. “I talk to them more often now. I realized it’s good to keep talking. I understand my parents better, and they understand me in turn. They are able to know when I am down. I know I am able to ask for their help.”
T.Ankhtuya, 16, is a bright 11th grader who dreams of studying Agriculture when she grows up. She has it all figured out, including which University in UB to attend. In the meantime she works hard and likes to get good grades at school. She is one of the “regulars”at the YDC.
“I come here to develop myself first and foremost,” she says, and recommends the place to other young people, “Coming here has so many advantages.” Of course, it’s a really great place to meet friends. “I befriend the newcomers.” T.Ankhtuya smiles, “And coming here has made me closer to the other “regulars”.”
JUST A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE YOURSELF
B.Munkhtuul, 16, is a reserved, somewhat shy girl and just appreciates coming to the YDC for some quiet, solitary time either using the library or the computers. “ We don’t have internet at home, I’d have to buy a modem,” she shares. “I like to come here and do my schoolwork. It’s nice that I can do things for myself here, without interruptions.”
O.Altanshagai and N.Bolorchuluun are both 17. He likes his Mongolian language and International Literature subjects, while she prefers her IT classes and Physical Education. Both love basketball. They come to YDC at least twice a week to do their homework, research, use the library and participate in whatever activities the YDC program might offer. They like the friendly atmosphere, the staff and the youth clientele. “The best thing about YDC are the people around here.” N.Bolorchuluun says.
B.Azjargal and D.Sarantuya, are both 15 while O.Munguntsooj is 16. All three are music lovers, and know how to play the Morin Khuur (Mongoliantraditional horsehead fiddle) while also listening to “anything in English” usingthe popularmusic to improve their music and languageskills. All three enjoy the Y-PEER trainings offered at the YDC. “ I like it here. I particularly appreciate the free and useful counselling services offered to us,” O.Munguntsooj shares. Asked if they would recommend the YDC experience to other young people, the answer is a chorus of “Yes!”
“We’ll invite those at school who haven’t come here yet, “B.Azjargalsays, “Although those might be few. Everyone is school has heard of this place.”
Although the YDC in Khanbogd has been open for only about a year, signs of success have already started to be seen. Considering that the objectives for establishing Youth Development Centers include providing youth with a place to learn valuable life skills, have access to counseling services and a venue engage positively with their peers all in safe, fun environment, the YDC in Khanbogd has achieved some positive results just within a year.
As A.Martbayar, 15, puts it quite simply, “I think it’s important to have this YDC here in our soum. It’s a good thing.” The youth of Khanbogd seem like they couldn’t agree more.
By: A.Esguerra
