Mongolian - U.S. National Civic Engagement Program (MUNCEP)

The Program

The Mongolian-U.S. National Civic Engagement Program (MUNCEP) is a nine-week professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI) in coordination with the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for young adults of Mongolian descent who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or F-1 visa holders to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington, DC to engage civically and reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Mongolia relationship.

MUNCEP introduces the chosen participants to their roles and responsibilities in becoming engaged in their community and beyond.  It provides them with the skills and knowledge to participate in and transform into leaders in the democratic and electoral processes as well as civil society through a series of hands-on and interactive workshops, networking opportunities, placement in professional development/internship positions in Washington, D.C, one-on-one mentorship, and the completion of a civic engagement project.

This program provides these young people with the opportunity to intern on a national level in various offices of elected officials, public agencies or in organizations involved in the political/government/policy influencing arena, such as the U.S. Congress, government agencies, non-governmental organizations..  This opportunity helps develop a stronger understanding of how government and the political system work by experiencing it from an insider’s perspective.  Further, the program prepares these young leaders to participate in the civic arena, developing skills for those interested in public service and/or in becoming citizens involved in their communities.  Not only is this an invaluable professional experience, but also benefits the Mongolian American community by increasing the interest of Mongolian Americans in American politics and civic engagement in the future.

The program also highlights professional development at its core. Each participant is matched with a mentor based on professional and career goals, offering individualized support and guidance to our program participants in helping them navigate their future professional careers and expand their networks. The program also features a variety of group and individual networking opportunities and professional development workshops.

In the United States, participation in the political process and being civically engaged are crucial to ensuring that a community’s needs and concerns are heard and addressed.   The MUNCEP program is one way to achieve this objective by finding a more effective way to support the Mongolian community in the US’s new generation to represent their own community politically and civically.

Click here to view the MUNCEP informational one-pager.

For application, requirements, and deadlines, please click below.

MUNCEP 2024 Program Details

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