World Bank finances youth corps development project in Kazakhstan
“We are continuing the “Zhas Project” this year. We have already involved more than 5.5 thousand young people and this year we are going to continue this initiative. By 2020, we plan to involve more than 8.5 thousand young people”, executive secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, Aryn Orsariyev, said at the Central Communication Service’s press conference.
According to him, 5508 young people have been involved in the project over 2 years. They proposed 1,116 youth social and entrepreneurial projects.
Aryn Orsariyev said that within the project framework, Kazakhstani youth can apply for participation in the grant competition, having received the grant of up to one million tenge.
By the way, in 2019 the project will be implemented in Akmola, Atyrau, West Kazakhstan, Mangistau regions and in the cities of Astana and Almaty.
“We plan that 3,500 participants will be involved and at least 1,100 socially entrepreneurial projects from 6 regions will be supported. The grant in the amount of 1 million tenge will be allocated for each project and social scholarship will be paid to selected young people. All project participants will receive a monthly scholarship of 60,000 tenge (university graduates) and 40,000 tenge (the remaining participants), will receive training in the life skills program and project management skills. Also, within 6 months of implementation, each initiative group will receive the support of mentors”, A. Orsariyev said.
The speaker informed that young people from 14 to 29 years old (except pupils of comprehensive schools), interested in developing their own potential, all-important and leadership skills, implementing initiative ideas and social projects, are invited to participate in the project. Special priority in the project is given to participants who do not work and do not study, or work, but remain below the poverty line.
Aryn Orsariyev noted that many projects and programs will be implemented for young people in the future.
“I am sure that this year will be a great start for discovering new ideas and talents among our young people. I urge young people from the mentioned regions to participate in the youth corps development project and bring their ideas to life”, he added.
Head of the coordination agency of the youth corps development project, Vera Kim, explained how the grant will be paid.
“We transfer the amount of money in two tranches. The first tranche - 500 thousand tenge – is transferred after the conclusion of a contract and training. During the implementation of the project within six months, the participants submit a monthly report on how they implement it. Based on meetings with mentors and monthly reports, they receive a scholarship. So only after the group sold 50% of the tranche, it was able to pay financially, providing all the data, only after that we provide the second tranche”, Vera Kim said.
It is also noted that during the two years of the project’s existence, 186 projects for the production of dairy and meat products, 128 projects on the organization of computer and language courses were implemented. 80 sports clubs and fitness clubs, 120 leisure clubs and 56 children's centers, 86 sewing workshops, 67 bakeries and a lot of other interesting and necessary projects have been realized.
Saltanat Sarina
