Mongolian National Debate Team competes in Washington, DC

The Mongolian National High School Debate Team traveled to Washington, DC, last fall to compete in the annual  international debate tournament sponsored by the English-Speaking Union. Last year, it was held in Seoul. In honor of the national team's first visit to the US, the NAMBC donated traditional jackets embroidered with the national flag and hats hand-tailored by Mongolian artisans working with the USAID-funded "GER Initiative,"  managed by CHF International in Ulaanbaatar. NAMBC Chairman Ed Story explained, "We wanted our team to look sharp!" 

English was the medium for the International Tournament. The National Debate Team's team's coach for  the last three years has been Ms. Allison Hahn, a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, an NAMBC member organization. Ms. Hahn also runs Pittsburgh annual Mongolia Field Studies Seminar. Team members met with Mongolian Ambassador Kh. Bekhbat at a reception in Washington, DC,  for the Friends-of-Mongolia NGO hosted by Ambassador and Mrs. Al La Porta, former US Ambassador to Mongolia.

Ambassador Kh. Bekhbat (second from right) meets with Mongolian National Debate Team Members Anar-erdene Sukhbaatar (left), Mendtuvshin Enkhtaivan (second from left) and Goomaral Tumurchudur (right)