World Learning and USAID Launch New Program to Support Democratic Development in Mongolia

Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Publication Location: WASHINGTON
Contact: Kathryn Schoenberger   |   [email protected]

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded World Learning a new $2.5 million Mongolian Young Leaders Program. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the program during his June 5 visit to Ulaanbaatar. It supports U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Jennifer Zimdahl Galt’s initiative to help build the country’s next generation of democratic leaders.

World Learning will lead the two-year program in partnership with non-profit organizations from both Mongolia and the United States —the Center for Citizenship Education and the International Republican Institute. The Mongolian Young Leaders Program will support promising young leaders from the public, civil society, media, and private sectors to work collaboratively on key policy issues related to environment and urbanization, unemployment and poverty alleviation, and anti-corruption and transparency. Through leadership programs and international exchanges, participants will interact with colleagues within Mongolia and counterparts from the United States and selected Asian countries. The program will also encourage public engagement among high school students by providing new civic education materials to teachers and sponsoring Project Citizen competitions in which students take action to improve their schools and communities.

“Mongolia’s nearly 25 years of peaceful democracy provide hope for countries struggling with authoritarian pasts,” said Carol Jenkins, president for Global Development and Exchange at World Learning. “World Learning and our partners are proud to support a new generation of democratic champions to continue this legacy.”

World Learning is an international non-profit organization working to promote leadership, empower people and strengthen institutions in over 75 countries through education, development and exchange programs. It has been active in Mongolia since 2000 through its Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad programs, and international exchanges.