Growing up in a family of camel herders in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, Chantsalnyam Luvsandorj had high aspirations for herself and her country. After receiving top marks in her rural school in Khuld, Dundgobi province, her ambition led her to Ulaanbaatar — the world’s coldest capital city — where she joined international organizations and worked on projects to improve Mongolian communities like hers, while protecting the natural environment for future generations.

After earning her master’s degree in sustainability, Chantsalnyam was eager to contribute to her country’s development and joined other youth activists in a USAID program that recruited diverse youth changemakers as “fellows” who engaged in training, networking, and professional experience opportunities. The goal of the program was to enhance civic engagement on issues in Mongolia, such as poverty, unemployment, transparency and anti-corruption, and environment and urbanization.

Participants learned from each other as they shared their views on these topics and other issues impacting Mongolia and the world, an experience that broadened Chantsalnyam’s perspective. While Chantsalnyam focused on urbanization and the environment, she learned from others who worked on poverty reduction and government transparency.

“It was a safe space where fellows could be themselves and openly express their ideas,” she said.

Chantsalnyam’s group built a playground in a disadvantaged urban Ulaanbaatar neighborhood; their project used input from children in the community to create a safe, fun, and enriching environment.

Youth Engagement in Mongolia’s Democratic Future

Mongolia’s democracy is relatively new — the country transitioned to a democratic system after a peaceful revolution in 1990 — and unique in a region dominated by authoritarian governments of the PRC and Russia.

With nearly 60% of the population under 30 years old, Mongolia’s rising leaders play a significant role in strengthening Mongolia democracy, today and in the future. However, despite democratic progress, Mongolia is facing corruption, social inequity, and a lack of government transparency. This has led to widespread cynicism; according to polling by USAID partner the International Republican Institute, 64% of youth respondents do not feel that political parties are doing enough to address their needs.

Nevertheless, most youth remain committed to Mongolia’s democratic future: 76% of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 believe democracy is the best possible form of government for Mongolia.

“Democracy gives Mongolia the strength to stay independent, sandwiched between two giant neighbors,” Chantsalnyam said.

USAID also facilitated an exchange program with 246 youth leaders between 25 and 40 years old from different sectors, who embarked on a leadership and democracy training program in Washington, D.C. Participants learned how to engage constructively with their government and other institutions in order to affect change and improve democratic outcomes in their communities.

It also connected Mongolian youth leaders with their peers in Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, and Burma, which positioned them as regional leaders, and offered a civic education curriculum and citizen engagement initiative that inspired thousands of students across Mongolia to take action to solve real community problems.

Chantsalnyam encourages her youth peers to feel empowered through taking action and providing leadership in their communities on issues they are passionate about.

“Just criticizing or ignoring is not an option,” she said. “If youth are sufficiently informed, they are the ones who will safeguard democracy and shape it in a way that’s fair and more equal.”

Alumni Continue Local Democratic Activism

Since the conclusion of the USAID program in 2021, graduates, including Chantsalnyam, have established an alumni association to continue their democratic activism. During the 2021 Mongolian presidential election and national parliamentary elections, the association tracked voter turnout, which increased among women and youth by 12%. These youth leaders put their passion for democracy into practice by sharing election information with the public and publicizing their concerns about election integrity to advocate for political accountability.

The alumni association has also implemented over 10 social change projects, including an initiative that brings speakers to youth in rural provinces for motivational talks about democratic values, media literacy, civic participation, and more.

In both her professional career and her time volunteering as a democracy activist, Chantsalnyam is working hard to make a positive change in Mongolia. She is passionate about helping Mongolian communities and the environment.

“Ulaanbaatar is home to half of the national population, of which 60% are low- and middle-income people who live in highly polluted areas with limited access to economic and social activities or services,” said Chantsalnyam.

In her current job, Chantsalnyam is working to tackle these issues by identifying and making accessible environmentally-sustainable and affordable housing for underprivileged neighborhoods of Ulaanbaatar.

Over the last three decades, strengthening youth participation in democracy has been a hallmark of USAID support to Mongolia. USAID has recently offered civic engagement workshops, conferences that raise awareness of key issues affecting youth and women, comprehensive voter education campaigns, and training workshops for journalists and civil society activists.