OT and UNFPA sign agreement on youth development

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have established a joint agreement to support youth development, in Khanbogd soum of South Gobi. The document was signed Thursday by Mr Ivan Villa, the OT LLC’s COO, and by Ms Naomi Kitahara, the UNFPA Representative to Mongolia. The two organizations have agreed to establishment a Youth Development Centre, commonly known as a YDC, in Khanbogd. It will provide trainings and coaching on life-skills, support young people in developing practical, relevant job skills, provide counseling in reproductive health, education, communication and psychology, while providing a fun and safe atmosphere. This partnership between OT and UNFPA-Mongolia brings together two organizations working in the private and development sector. This innovative collaboration is the first of its kind for the UN agency. During the signing ceremony, UNFPA Representative Naomi Kitahara said, “The objective of the project is to help young people acquire life skills and grow as responsible, positive and self-reliant people. One of the main vehicles for achieving this is the Youth Development Centre." Mr Ivan Vella said, "Over the many years that I have worked here, I have learned that the youth of Mongolia has truly world class potential. Over the years, OT has invested in significant programmes to deliver skills and knowledge, and we believe the YDC can be an important instrument in supporting Mongolia’s development. We are proud to be part of such an important project, and to partner with the UNFPA.” To date, UNFPA and the Government of Mongolia, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Government of Luxembourg, have established 12 YDCs throughout Mongolia. These YDCs are working to build a responsible, positive and self-reliant youth population. Highlighting the strength of the partnership, Ms Kitahara added, “OT has delivered significant interventions, particularly in the regional Technical and Vocational training sector. Coupled with UNFPA’s technical expertise in the areas of youth, gender and adolescent health, we believe there is great potential to make a significant difference in the lives of Khanbogd youth.”