The U.S.-Mongolia Emerging Youth Leaders program engages youth in a community journalism program exploring democracy and free expression in civil society. While promoting mutual understanding between the two countries, it builds leadership skills, increases community awareness and engagement, and encourages responsible citizenship among students.

Launched in September 2010, the year-long program features a reciprocal exchange between Boston and Ulaanbaatar, hands-on journalism training and professional development workshops, community action projects, and production of school publications using new media tools. During the exchanges, students and teachers will join a journalism camp in the Gobi deset and work with media partners, including the community newspaper Spare Change, New England Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston University and the MIT Center for Future Civic Media.

"This is such a fantastic opportunity for Boston public high school students. Not just for the lucky ones who get to be immersed in life in Mongolia for three weeks, but for all the students and teachers who will engage in the training about media and free expression."

- Yu-Lan Lin, Director of World Languages for Boston Public Schools

The goal of the Emerging Youth Leaders program is to increase links between youth and educators in the U.S. and Mongolia through journalism collaboration and community action. It is supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is adminstered by iEARN-USA in partnership with United Planet and the Mongolian Education Alliance.