Project “Education”

The programme of psychological correction and social adaptation of graduates of orphanages launched by the “Saby” Foundation in last November has been completed. The last exercise has been held, and we can say that theoretical and practical trainings conducted within six months in three sponsored orphanages have shown their results. Children, who worked hard and really wished to get skills of homemaking, searching for housing, successful communication, professional orientation, employment and many other things required independent living, were able to master such skills in full.

Experience shows that children, who are under guardianship of the state, do not think about their future “adult” life. Professional psychologist working under the psychological correction programme said: “… the vast majority of children, especially those who have spent in orphanages for 3-4 years or more, have a vague idea of ordinary life. Sometimes they do not have basic independent living skills. In some cases we can even talk about partial social disability. “

Psychological trainings have helped children see themselves from outside, assess soberly their possibilities, think about the future and learn to make independent decisions, which was the basic idea of completed trainings.

See interview of a professional psychologist on pages of our website in the near future.

Professional computer-based testing of orphanage graduates conducted annually in two stages has been completed this year.

The first test stage conducted last autumn for 9-11-year pupils of sponsored orphanages using a computer programme “Proforientator” developed specially by the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov has become a starting point on the way to solve a problem related to selection of a future profession. In addition to identification of abilities and skills of graduates, the programme has given recommendations for elimination of gaps in knowledge on liberal arts.

The second stage organized in several months was focused on verification of the results of the independent self-cultivation work performed by children. The results were good – most children showed again their preferences in job selection, and during that period many children managed to improve their level of knowledge.

One of the practical exercises under the programme of psychological correction and social adaptation of orphanage graduates was devoted to a topic “How to behave competently during an interview”. A lecturer of an Almaty Higher Education Institution, who was a very famous person in his area of knowledge, narrated the training participant about specific rules than could help find a job.

At the beginning of exercises the specialist told about himself, his work and the necessity for getting good education and knowledge of foreign languages in order to start fruitful career.
Then, the subject was how to produce positive impression on a potential employer and demonstrate interest in obtaining employment during an interview as well as what documents should be taken along.

During the second part of the training children, who had already chosen their future professions, were acting as “applicants”. Applicants who had applied for positions of architect, teacher and sales manager faced considerable difficulties. It emerged that children had minor knowledge of those professions despite their popularity.

“Applicants” for positions of cooks were more successful. A conclusion of the exercise was definite: besides knowledge and practical skills gained in educational institutions and at work, it was necessary to improve continuously the skills, continue self-education and develop erudition.

Reinforcement of theoretical learning in practice is a necessary condition for success in any business. For the purpose of getting practical skills on employment we have organized an excursion for fosterlings of orphanages attending at our trainings for psychological correction and social adaptation to one of network hypermarkets of Almaty city specialized in sale of household appliances and electronics.

Young girls and boys got familiar to director and employees of the shop. Children found out about main principles o work of trade enterprises, assortment of goods, rules of conduct of selling assistants, tactics of communication with clients and other details in the sphere of sales. Director promised that if the children would wish to work as salesmen, he would certainly hire them as probationary employees, and gave them instructions how to draw up a curriculum vitae and conduct themselves during interviews. Children were impressed when they found out that there was a possibility to combine the work and study – management of the shop encouraged people striving for getting education.

One of employees of the hypermarket was a former graduate of an orphanage. He told children about himself, his work in the company where he had been working for many years, and shared his impressions and experience.
Young boys and girls were able to apply new knowledge right there, in the course of a role-playing game organized by a coach-psychologist where children acted as salesmen. At the end of the day they received small presents from the shop – branded notepads, pens and business cards.

Six-monthly tutorial lessons we spoke previously about are continued. During almost two months fosterlings of orphanages being pupils of senior classes attend the municipal tutorial center where they can improve their knowledge in basic subjects included in the United National Testing.

Children attend lectures with pleasure. Individual approach to each pupil allows determining and eliminating gaps in knowledge. It is already possible to speak about the first results: during a trial test organized for the purpose of checking skills gained in the course of tutorial lessons pupils showed very good results: over 90 points out of 100 possible points!

Except the store of knowledge children are implanted with love for subjects and diligence. Furthermore, future school leavers are interested both in improvement of their knowledge in the school programme and in getting an opportunity to continue education in colleges and universities at the cost of Educational Grants provided by the “Saby” Foundation.

The beginning of a school year represents continuation of the Educational Project of the “Saby” Foundation and, as a consequence, a traditional annual occupational testing of future graduates of sponsored orphanages.

Young boys and girls will pass computer testing on the base of Almaty branch of the professional orientation department of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov. Based on the results of answers children may determine what profession will be the most interesting and useful for them in the future.

In the course of lessons conducted with pupils and graduates a specially developed programme is used in the Center. Results obtained in the process of diagnostics are represented in the form of diagrams, graphics and detailed text interpretations for all test indicators.

For this school year the “Saby” Foundation has planned two stages of professional testing: in the next few days experienced specialists are going to help children in choosing a general direction in a profession, and in February 2011 it is planned to determine a profile class, higher or secondary special educational institution.

Thus, by spring 2011 children will probably have known what professions as well as what institutes and colleges will be suitable for them best of all, and they will also be able to understand the world of existing professions and know well themselves and their individual psychological qualities.

Employees of the “Saby” Charitable Foundation congratulate participants of the Educational Project from Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Kyzylorda with the beginning of a new school year!

We wish you studiousness and success in study, as well as good mood!

The time of entrance examinations is ending for the leavers of 9-11th forms – participants of the Educational Project of the Saby Foundation having obtained, this year, grants to study at colleges and higher education institutions.

For the time being, necessary documents related to the entrants and their educational institutions are being executed.

Hereby we inform the persons admitted thereto and remind those students, who proceed to study at the cost of the Foundation, of the necessity to submit invoices for payment for the first six months of the 2010-2011 academic year until September 1.

This year, not only leavers of 9-11th forms in Almaty and the Almaty Oblast but children from other regions of Kazakhstan have become happy winners of Educational Grants from Saby Foundation.

Having done a serious work, we have settled upon the most worthy candidates. Everything has been taken into consideration: academic progress, behavior, participation in social life of the school and the orphanage and many others.

The results of the selection, which has turned to be not simple owing to the limited number of grants this year, are as follows:
– The Kzylorda Boarding-School #1 for orphaned children and children left without the care of their parents, has got 3 places;
– Orphanage «Umit», town of Ust-Kamenogorsk – 2;
– Orphanage #1, city of Almaty – 1;
– Specialized Complex «Zhanuya» city of Almaty – 2;
– Almaty Regional Kazakhsh Boarding-School named after Nusipbayev – 5;
– The Youths’ Centre, city of Almaty – 1.

We congratulate the winners and wish them to pass their entrance examinations successfully!