Where we do it > Kazakhstan
| Population: |
14.8 million |
| Capital city: |
Astana |
| GDP per capita: |
$42.6bn |
| HDI ranking: |
80 out of 177 countries * |
| Life expectancy: |
63 |
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* The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) measures a country's achievements
in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income.
Country background
VSO Kazakhstan works in three regions of the country; Almaty, Kostanai and Pavlodar. Volunteers work in the areas of secure livelihoods and health and social well-being. Kazakhstan is the size of western Europe, but with a population of just 15 million. The poorest communities are generally situated in extremely isolated rural areas. For this reason, VSO volunteers are mostly working in small towns which act as district centres or hubs, from where their work can radiate out to impact remoter rural areas.
Secure livelihoods
Work in secure livelihoods is focused on creating income opportunities for communities in remote rural communities by developing an eco-tourism programme. Volunteers are working with the Ecotourism Information Resource Centre (which is the only tourist information centre in the whole country), the Agency for Tourism, Business Development Foundations and local non-governmental organisations. Volunteers are supporting local colleagues to develop project plans, funding proposals, financial systems, networking opportunities and marketing activity so they are in stronger position to promote rural areas of the country as holiday destinations for the growing eco-tourism market. In addition, VSO facilitated a learning visit to Mongolia, which enabled Kazakhstani tourism workers to see firsthand how Mongolia has successfully developed its own eco-tourism industry.
Health and social well-being
In the area of health and social well-being volunteers are developing the provision of community-based social services for children with disabilities and their families. The objective of this activity is to reduce the number of children who are institutionalised or who do not receive the most appropriate care. Volunteers are working with local non-governmental organisations to develop new methods of care and therapy, introducing new training for social workers and therapists and encouraging legislative changes so that the rights of disabled children and their families are recognised.
Programme closure and national volunteering
VSO Kazakhstan will be closing its programme in 2007 but VSO is currently developing a national volunteering programme to encourage local people to volunteer their time and skills in poorer areas of the country.
