Meet Nasanbayar, one of the most valuable and known volunteers of ASEM11 who have also been among the youngest volunteers. As a 12th grade student in the Mongolia - Russia joint school, he plans to study preferably in the United States and started preparing for college application for this coming fall. He believes that admission counselors will be in no doubt to be impressed to see him involved in ASEM 11 volunteer work.
He volunteered when the ASEM delegates visited to Chingissiin Khuree Complex to see Mongolian Naadam. “It was on Friday, 15th of July, when I was one of the luckiest volunteers who got to help the spouses of the leaders coming to the ASEM” he recalls.
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| Nasanbayar with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and his spouse, Ms. Ho Ching |
Nasanbayar welcomed Ms. Ho Ching, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Singapore, and guided her to a Mongolian traditional Ger where she stayed for a short time. As their short walk up to the Ger, Nasanbayar and Ms. Ho Ching had a short conversation about Mongolia, its culture and tradition as well as about youth in Mongolia.
“We started talking about what I had planned for this summer; my studies and future profession and universities. It was amazing how after I finished talking, she responded with very concise and thought-out questions or answers as if she was genuinely interested in getting to know me. It made me feel proud of the fact that I was representing Mongolia as well as Mongolian youth”
Next day in Ulaanbaatar, as the Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and Ms. Ho Ching took short a walk, exploring the city, they have ran into Nasanbayar who have been going to the ASEM11 Volunteer Station for his next assignment. The Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and Ms. Ho Ching kindly agreed to take a photograph with Nasanbayar and thanked Nasanbayar for his dedicated efforts and time volunteering for the ASEM!
On his Facebook page, the Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong put Nasanbayar’s photo with a caption of “My thanks to the many local ASEM volunteers who worked hard to take care of all the delegates and guests, and helped to make the Summit a success. Many were students, like this young volunteer who guided Ho Ching at the Naadam festival. He has taken the TOEFL, and is hoping to go to the US to study IT”.
“After taking the photograph, they wished me luck, shook my hand once again and continued their walk through the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. It was the greatest honor to meet Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs Ho Ching. I had to pinch myself to make sure it was not one of my daydreams” Nasanbayar describes the unexpected encounter with the Mrs Ho Ching again.
He noted the importance of recognizing volunteers when he shared how even the smallest compliment from someone could go a long way, giving the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that all volunteers seek on daily basis.
Nasanbayar relates his ASEM11 Volunteer experience to be one of the best experiences he have ever had and describes it as an eye-opening event that reminded him once again that there's always an extra room to fill. He says “The most important thing that I noticed during the ASEM was the true significance of inner and outer motivation that kept me enthusiastic and focused. When you’re doing a voluntary work, you never know what’s going to happen the following day - you could make new friends, meet amazing people or come to a deep realization of your volunteer experience made a difference in you.”
