Ulaanbaatar, June 24, 2021 – Deputy Foreign Minister Munkhjin Batsumber presented the Order of the Polar Star, the highest state honor Mongolia confers to foreign citizens, to Kim Mansaray, Country Director of Peace Corps Mongolia. Ms. Mansaray is the first Country Director to receive this distinction in Peace Corps Mongolia’s thirty-year history.
Through a presidential decree, President Battulga Khaltmaa awarded the Order of the Polar Star to Peace Corps Mongolia and its leadership, including Kim Mansaray, for their invaluable contribution to advancing the friendly relations and cooperation between the United States and Mongolia. Only a handful of U.S. citizens have received this honor.
This year, Peace Corps Mongolia is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since the first volunteer arrived in 1991, 1,500 volunteers have served in every province of Mongolia. As the agency works to safely return volunteers to countries around the world, Peace Corps Mongolia is introducing an enhanced education program that will ensure a more holistic approach to community development.
“The U.S.-Mongolia partnership is stronger than ever,” Director Mansaray said. “I am truly honored to be presented Mongolia’s highest state award and on behalf of Peace Corps Mongolia’s staff, we look forward to continuing to expand Mongolian-American relations and cooperation.”
Since Kim Mansaray began working as the Country Director of Peace Corps Mongolia, she has travelled all over the country, monitored the alignment of Volunteer activities with the needs and demands of Mongolian communities, and leveraged her professional experience to further Volunteer efforts. Under her leadership, Peace Corps Mongolia has improved its partnership and cooperation with the Government of Mongolia, local government, NGOs, and many other organizations.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment, and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov.
