Jack Ganbaatar of Mongolia and Aaron Bonette of the Philippines are partnering with OutCare Health through the U.S. Department of State’s Community Solutions Program. Ganbaatar and Bonette are emerging global leaders in queer healthcare, collaborating on projects that will help strengthen LGBTQ+ communities and improve lives in the U.S., Philippines, and Mongolia.
The fellows will focus on building training, workshops, and communications materials focused on best practices that can be used in the Philippines and Mongolia to encourage the healthcare sector to be more culturally competent about LGBTQ+ people and patient care.
“OutCare is thrilled to partner with the Community Solutions Program and welcome Jack and Aaron to the OutCare family,” said Dr. Nowaskie, Founder and President of OutCare Health. “The perspectives and needs of LGBTQ+ people should be routinely considered in public health efforts to improve the overall health of every person and eliminate health disparities and barriers to care in the U.S. and beyond.”
Ganbaatar (he/him) (Left) is a queer rights activist. He had worked at a local LGBT Centre for 5 years in charge of the health program and had been instrumental in identifying healthcare system gaps and developing opportunities to improve access to healthcare for LGBTIQ+ Mongolians. He has been currently working on his research focusing on the lived experience of young queer Mongolians as part of his Master’s degree.
Bonette (they/them) (Right) is a queer artist and development communication practitioner with more than six years of experience working and collaborating with different organizations and design agencies to affect change in communities. Aaron has a degree in Visual Communication with a Fine Arts Major in Advertising. They are the Managing Editor of Outrage Magazine — the only LGBTQIA+ publication in the Philipinnes— and Program Manager of Bahaghari Center for LGBT Research, Education, and Advocacy, Inc., creating and developing communication solutions and programs for vulnerable populations, especially the LGTBQIA+ community, people living with HIV, and domestic violence survivors all over the Philippines.
About Community Solutions Program:
Since 2010, the Community Solutions Program (CSP) has provided over 740 community leaders, between the ages of 25 and 38, from 99 countries with an intensive professional development experience in the United States. Focusing on complex economic, environmental, social, and political issues, CSP fellows complete an intensive U.S.-based practicum, undertake rigorous leadership coursework, build new networks, and implement community project in their home country, using their newly acquired leadership and technical skills. The 2021 CSP Fellows are participating in a newly developed virtual program. CSP fellows have contributed over 350,000 hours supporting 129 U.S. communities across 40 states and Washington, DC. CSP community projects have impacted over 600,000 beneficiaries around the world.
The Community Solutions Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX.
