Children in Astana design instructional playthings for kids with special abilities
In Astana, a 3-day innovation camp called Innovate For Change has kicked off, bringing together high school students to design and create educational tools for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism.
This unique program, now in its first year, aims to engage teenagers directly in developing practical solutions that enhance educational and play experiences for children with special needs. The event is supported by partners like A Group Development, helping transform ideas into tangible solutions for improving inclusivity.
The camp focuses on hands-on innovation, encouraging students to apply creativity and technical skills to address accessibility challenges faced by children with disabilities. Each day, students work on designing useful items and learn about inclusion, social responsibility, and safe behavior.
Nuriya Baltabaykyzy, chairperson of the National Association Autism Kazakhstan, shared her experience with the students, discussing topics like road safety and children's rights. Her talk was met with attentive listening and curious questions from the participants.
The project's goal is not only to foster civic thinking, respect for the law, and respect for the rights of others and oneself, but also to emphasize the rights and responsibilities of teenagers themselves. Baltabaykyzy underscored the importance of following traffic rules for safety reasons.
Workshops on digital modeling and design are part of the program, equipping students with the necessary skills to bring their ideas to life. Teams are creating educational solutions, such as sensory modules and cards, in addition to toys.
The participants of the project are teenagers from various cities in Kazakhstan. At the end of the three days, a jury will select the best teams to continue working on full prototypes. All finished products will be donated to children with special needs as part of a social project.
Inclusion, according to Aida Abzhanova, the co-founder of the project, is about equal rights, respect, and understanding that the law is the same for everyone. Abzhanova emphasized that the project is not just about creating inclusive and educational toys, but also about teaching teenagers about their own rights and responsibilities within the law.
The Innovate For Change project is based at Spectrum International School and is in partnership with the Balam-Ai organization. It is a summer educational program that lasts from August 1 to 3. Through this initiative, Astana is taking a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.
- The Innovate For Change project in Astana, focusing on personal growth, social responsibility, and safe behavior, aims to foster civic thinking and respect for the law and rights of others.
- Workshops on digital modeling and design within the project equip participants with skills to create useful educational tools like sensory modules, cards, and toys, contributing to the goal of education-and-self-development.
- The Innovate For Change project, emphasizing inclusion and understanding, advocates for equal rights and equal application of policy-and-legislation, as discussed by Aida Abzhanova, the co-founder of the project.
- The 3-day summer educational program, Innovate For Change, brings together teenagers from various cities in Kazakhstan to design and create educational tools for children with disabilities, promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.
