In the summer of 2022, I found information about the Professional Fellows Program jointly organized by the United States Department of State and the National Committee on United States and China Relations from social media and submitted my application to the program. This program provides an opportunity to work and exchange experience at a local non-governmental organization in the United States for four weeks. I started looking for an organization to gain experience in the field related to migration because I am a focal point for issues of migration, gender, and diversity in my role as the Monitoring and Evaluation specialist at the Mongolian Red Cross Society.
During my research, I found ORAM and was interested in this organization. ORAM is recognized as one of the first international NGOs to assist people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. I thought it would be an opportunity to focus on migration and refugee issues, learn from current programs, and improve my understanding of gender and diversity. So I selected ORAM and mentioned it in my application form. Fortunately, I received the news that I was accepted into the program around Christmas. I worked with ORAM and did my one-month fellowship in May 2023, the most beautiful season in Minnesota, home to ORAM's U.S. office.
I came to Minneapolis and spent four weeks working for ORAM at Alight, ORAM's parent organization's office. I first observed and learned the organizational culture and structure. Having never worked outside the Red Cross network, it was most interesting to see how the ORAM staff work in four different regions, focusing on major projects and how they work together. Although the team works remotely across different time zones and connects virtually, the organization's internal information flow and cooperation are very close and well coordinated, and the process of delivering activities is transparent.
I had an opportunity to connect with ORAM's team members and the Board Chair to get information about their roles and work within ORAM from different perspectives. Also, it was rewarding to meet Alight's staff in the office, participate in meetings, and learn how the two organizations collaborate.
Pictured: Kyle and I at Alight's Minneapolis office on the first day of my fellowship.
I am very grateful to learn from ORAM, get to know Alight's activities, network with its staff, and learn from both organizations. Since COVID, organizational structures have shifted to a more hybrid style, but cooperation has become stronger, and the office environment has reached a different level in America. Also, I had the chance to experience global level cooperation in different regions from ORAM. In the future, I will have the opportunity to bring collaborative and hybrid working culture between teams and employees to a different level in my organization in Mongolia and introduce the American experience to my organization.
My next learning and takeaway were ORAM's core program activities. ORAM has programs in East Africa and Ukraine, with upcoming plans in Mexico. Their programs include providing short-term and long-term housing to displaced LGBTIQ Ukrainians in Berlin and improving the livelihoods of the LGBTIQ refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Nairobi by conducting vocational training and providing seed funding for businesses. I had the opportunity to learn about
these programs, share operational experiences, and contribute to developing the Monitoring and Evaluation framework.
I also learned from the program design and implementing methodology and approach, compared it with the activities implemented in my organization, and understood the country's situation and context. In addition, I increased my knowledge about the global crisis and the situation of LGBTIQ individuals. I improved my understanding of migration, refugees, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We plan to develop the Migration Program of the Mongolian Red Cross Society and determine the direction of work based on the country's context and humanitarian needs. I am sure that the things learned from ORAM will be of great help in starting this work.
Pictured: Me at the ORAM/Alight office.
One of the objectives of the Professional Fellows Program is to learn about the
American way of life and culture and to share our own culture and traditions.
By working at the Alight/ORAM office and with the ORAM team in different regions, I have worked with people from many countries and learned from different cultures and features. I am also happy to experience American life living and working in Minnesota.
Pictured: Kyle and I at the Summer Kick-off to the Minnesota State Fair
I want to thank Kyle, ORAM's Communications and Development Coordinator, who is based in Minneapolis, for supporting me in sharing the daily life adventure and American lifestyle. He invited me to dinner to experience the Jucy Lucy burger, which is famous in Minnesota. He showed me a tulip field, invited me to the Minnesota State Fair, and shared about Minnesotans' and Americans' daily life, style, and characteristics. Also, thank you for answering my questions and helping me understand and experience American culture and style.
Finally, thank you to the ORAM team for accepting my request to work at ORAM, cooperating with me, and allowing me to complete my fellowship at ORAM.