UNYAP Newsletter #21: April

We are excited to share the April edition of our monthly newsletter with you!

68th Commission on the Status of Women Attendee Urin Nyamsuren’s Visitation

UNYAP had the pleasure of hosting a discussion with Ms. Urin Nyamsuren, who represented Mongolia at the 68th annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)!

Ms. Nyamsuren, a dynamic young professional with a background in financial analysis, a self-taught artist, and a social media influencer, shared her invaluable experiences and key learnings from CSW68.

This year’s theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective,” provided a powerful framework for her insights. Ms. Nyamsuren highlighted the importance of addressing poverty, health, and education issues through gender-responsive policies, cross-institutional partnerships, innovative solutions, and technology. She also shared her vision for how Mongolia can better prepare its youth for future employment through enhanced education in digital, financial, and health literacy, alongside college and career counseling and accessible information.

UNYAP is grateful to Ms. Urin for her time and for sharing her experiences from the world’s largest annual gathering on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Office Hop - Youth LEAD Mongolia

UNYAP recently had the privilege of visiting the office of our alum, Ts.Tseveenravdan, who is now the Executive Director of Youth LEAD Mongolia!

Youth LEAD Mongolia serves as a focal point within the Asia-Pacific network, Youth LEAD, dedicated to supporting and empowering young key populations (YPKs) through leadership, education, advocacy, and development (LEAD). Their efforts include capacity building, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) training, and ensuring active involvement in decision-making processes. They also focus on preventing STIs and HIV/AIDS, providing human rights education, psychosocial support for LGBTIQ+ youth, and engaging in advocacy at the United Nations for sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

During our visit to Youth LEAD Mongolia, UNYAP had a lively discussion with Tseveenravdan. It was an honor to learn about the organization’s efforts to empower youth and its ongoing projects, and to gain a deeper understanding of the conditions and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ youth community in Mongolia. Tseveenravdan shared heartwarming and insightful stories from his time at UNYAP, and taught us the importance of speaking out against rights violations. We are deeply grateful for our alum, Ts.Tseveenravdan, and the Youth LEAD Mongolia team for the warm hospitality and invaluable lessons, and we look forward to exciting future collaborations between UNYAP and Youth LEAD Mongolia!

World Health Day 2024

UNYAP at the “Voices of the Youth” Dialogue

UNYAP members G.Anu and A.Jamiyansuren participated in a dialogue with the theme “Voices of the Youth: My Health, My Right, My Future” for World Health Day! The World Health Organization (WHO) in Mongolia and the Ministry of Health of Mongolia organized the discussion to involve and empower young individuals in making health policy and healthcare decisions that affect their lives, livelihoods, and futures by collaborating with the youth and paying attention to their perspectives.

Our member and a student at the National University of Mongolia, G.Anu, opened one of the thematic discussion panels, “Environmental and Social Determinants for Youth Health,” and highlighted how environmental pollution negatively impacts the health of youths.

Our member and a student at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS), A.Jamiyansuren, initiated a discussion themed “Science and Youth Development,” bringing attention to the viewpoints, goals, and voices of young students in the health sector.

We at UNYAP are incredibly proud of G.Anu and A.Jamiyansuren for representing the voices of the youth in Mongolia. Their participation aligns with our mission to empower young individuals to influence and contribute to important health policies and decisions. UNYAP would also like to express our gratitude to WHO in Mongolia for their invitation and collaboration.

UNYAP Featured in World Health Day Video

Members of UNYAP had the opportunity to participate in a World Health Organization (WHO) video, where they shared their voices and discussed their aspirations for their health, their rights, and their hopes for the future.

Click here to watch the video.

UNYAP on Earth Day 2024

UNYAP member B.Sorkhugtani gave a compelling presentation for Earth Day at the International School of Ulaanbaatar (ISU)!

During the annual Earth Day Assembly at ISU, the school invited the United Nations in Mongolia, along with UNYAP. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Tapan Mishra, addressed the students, inspiring them to combat plastic pollution and safeguard our planet.

Our member, B.Sorkhugtani, a high school student, engaged the youth at ISU with a presentation themed “Plastics vs. Planet.” She highlighted humanity’s actions that have led to the accumulation of plastic pollution around the world and emphasized that youth are not only the future but also the present. Sorkhugtani then encouraged the students, explaining how our actions, no matter how small, can bring about significant change if we act collectively.

UNYAP is proud of B.Sorkhugtani for educating and inspiring youths to care for our only home. We extend our gratitude to the UN in Mongolia for the invitation and to ISU for hosting us at their assembly. Remember, "Earth Day is every day."

UNYAP at Terelj Boarding School

The UN Youth Advisory Panel (UNYAP) had the pleasure of accompanying Tapan Mishra, the UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia, on a visit to Terelj Boarding School. The visit aimed to engage students in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through interactive activities and discussions!

This visit underscored the importance of connecting with youth in educational settings to inspire and inform them about sustainable development. UNYAP organized an engaging Kahoot game session focused on SDGs and Mongolia, which was met with great enthusiasm from the students. Our hosts provided a tour of their beautiful campus, including a delicious lunch in their impressive canteen. The highlight of the visit was a vibrant performance by the students, who showcased their talents in dance and music, making the day truly memorable. Finally, the school graciously presented us with framed pictures capturing moments from our visit, a gesture that deeply touched us.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Terelj Boarding School and other educational institutions to further the SDGs in Mongolia!

UNYAP will see you in the next newsletter!