I am Ariunjargal Khaltarkhuu — Ari for short — and I am a member of the Humanitarian Internship Pilot Program (HIPP) cohort at The George Washington University (GWU). I joined GWU this January to pursue my master’s degree in Anthropology, with a double concentration in International Development and Health, Science & Society. I truly appreciate this opportunity, especially during this uncertain time for the humanitarian sector.
Born and raised in Mongolia — a country now classified from low-middle-income to upper-middle-income by the World Bank — and having spent two years of elementary school in Japan, a developed country, my experiences in different social and economic contexts have shaped my worldview. What was considered "normal" in Mongolia often wasn’t in Japan, and vice versa. As a young girl, I found myself wondering: Why do people’s living conditions differ so drastically in these two countries? These early questions sparked my passion for working in the humanitarian and international development sector.
I am truly honored to be part of the HIPP cohort at GWU, learning and growing every day. Although I already have several years of professional experience in Asia (Mongolia, Cambodia, and Japan) as a ground staff, my time here in Washington, D.C., has introduced me to new opportunities to support several initiatives, programs and community engagement efforts in diverse contexts.
There are many components that make humanitarian work possible — from implementing the activities on ground, delivering emergency and disaster relief, to financing, human resource and program management, stakeholder and donor partnerships, administrative support, marketing, and communication.
Currently, I support HIPP administration, assist with web and communications work at the Nashman Center and Humanitarian Action Initiative (HAI), and engage directly with middle school students in D.C. through the Civic Changemaker program. I have also been given opportunities to share my own story through these programs, which I think will be a very valuable experience for me. Contributing to these initiatives is helping me refine my skills and deepen my understanding of how essential strong operational support is for programs to take place and succeed.
Additionally, I am learning that team communication and collaboration here differ from my previous workplaces. It is more direct and flexible, and people openly offer their resources and contributions. This openness has been an inspiring shift for me.
Through HIPP, I feel one step closer to becoming a humanitarian and international development professional with both a global and local perspective — and with a deeper appreciation for all the roles necessary to make humanitarian work meaningful and impactful for the communities I serve.