LocationsYouth4Land: Young Voices, Local Action
August 12, 2026
Youth4Land
Young Voices, Local Action
Ahead of International Youth Day, young people involved in the "Youth Co:Lab Mongolia: Skills, Participation, and Social Entrepreneurship of Mongolia’s Youth” project, implemented by UNDP and co-funded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth and the UNCCD G20 Global Land Initiative reflect on finding opportunities to participate, learning by doing, and taking action on the issues that matter to their generation.
For many young people, making a difference can begin with a simple opportunity to get involved, ask questions, and try something new. Across Mongolia, young people are finding new opportunities to build skills, connect with one another and engage with issues that will shape their future. Through Youth Co:Lab Mongolia, UNDP and its partners are creating spaces for young people to develop their skills while engaging with real-world challenges.
We spoke with five young people involved in Youth Co:Lab and its Model COP17 initiative about what brought them into these experiences, what they have learned and what meaningful youth participation means to them.
Davaanyam Ser-Od, Student, Mongolian University of Life Sciences Bayankhongor
What made you decide to come from your local community to Ulaanbaatar to take part in Model COP?
I joined Model COP from Bayankhongor Province with the goal of working alongside young people who are taking the lead and pioneering new ideas, learning from them and gaining new experiences.
Why do you think the voices of young people from local communities are important in discussions like these?
Most of Mongolia's territory is rural. Young people who live in these communities experience environmental and climate-related issues firsthand and see their impacts in their daily lives. Because of this, young people can serve as a bridge, bringing the realities and needs of local communities to decision-makers and others. Their participation is important in helping develop solutions that reflect the specific circumstances and needs of their communities.
Purevjargal Enkhbayar, Youth Co:Lab Volunteer
What drew you to Youth Co:Lab and the opportunity to work with UNDP this summer?
I wanted to be part of creating opportunities for young people to explore different areas, learn new things and discover the many things they can become. I knew there were many young people who may not always have access to those opportunities, and I wanted to contribute to creating more direction and hope for them.
Looking back on your summer with Youth Co:Lab, what's one lesson you'll carry with you after this experience ends?
One lesson I learned from this experience is that we should always try to give back to our communities. After all, our communities shape who we become, and contributing to them is one way we can pass that support on to others. Whether it is something small or something big, I believe what matters most is the effort and intention. It can be as simple as carrying an elderly person's groceries. Through a small act like that, you can give someone hope and reassure them that there are still young people who are kind and capable of leading our future world.
Dohyun Kim, Student, Chungnam National University
What made you want to take part in Model COP in Mongolia?
I originally came to Mongolia for my veterinary clinical training, so joining Model COP was unexpected opportunity. Coming from Korea, where desertification is not something we experience in the same way, I saw this as a chance to learn about an issue and to better understand how it affects communities.
What will you take away from this experience?
I learned that people from different countries can have very different perspectives on the same issue. By sharing our experiences, we can better understand each other and work together. I would also like to share what I learned about desertification with the youth in South Korea. I want to share what I experienced here and show them that desertification is a global issue.
Odjargal Ganbold, Mongol Aspiration x UNDP Model COP Volunteer
What has been the most rewarding part of helping organize Model COP so far?
Every productive discussion requires an enormous amount of invisible work behind the scenes. Being involved in project management, logistics and administration for weeks, to finally see the delegates fully engaged in the discussions, was immensely satisfying. The level of rigorous discussion on climate policy was amazing as they debated various aspects of the issues with each other and came up with solutions. It is especially rewarding to see how the platform you helped create becomes a space for such discussions.
Khos-Erdene Sukhbaatar, Student, Mongol Aspiration
What motivated you to volunteer to your school's organizing team for Model COP?
I had already worked on environmental projects at a local level, so I was interested in seeing how the same kind of problems are approached through policy and international cooperation. With UNCCD COP17 taking place in Ulaanbaatar, I also wanted to help students experience that process themselves rather than just hearing about it on the news.
Why do you think it's important for high school students to have opportunities like this?
Much of what students learn at school involve problems that already have a correct answer, while experiences like Model COP require us to deal with problems where reasonable people can genuinely disagree. Learning to communicate across those differences, adapt to new perspectives, and work together towards a solution are skills that will stay with students long after they graduate.
About Youth Co:Lab
Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.
About UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' lead agency on international development. UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, build resilience, and support sustainable development for people and the planet.
Contact:
Indra Boldsukh | UNDP Mongolia, Communications Assistant | indra.boldsukh@undp.org
