1. Empowerment Now!
achievements of Year 1, August 2012 - 2013
and plans for Year 2, August 2013 - 2014
Civil Society Development Association

2. GOAL OF EN PROJECT
To improve social and economic
conditions of disabled people in
Kazakhstan

3. EN PROJECT PARTNERS
The Public Association of Disabled University
Graduates NAMYS
Established in 2002
• Mission: to protect the rights and interests of persons with
disabilities in the Republic of Kazakhstan, to create the conditions
required to ensure that persons with disabilities have opportunities
equal to those of other citizens and for their full integration into
society, as well as promotion of persons with disabilities in higher
education and the improvement of their qualification.
• Implemented 40 projects
• Participated in drafting the 2009 National Human Development
Report, entitled “From exclusion to equality: Realizing the rights
of persons with disabilities in Kazakhstan”

4. EN PROJECT PARTNERS
The Association of Women with Disabilities SHYRAK
Established in 2001
• Mission: to mobilize the women with disabilities through
information; education and unification; combining the strengths of
organizations of women with disabilities in Kazakhstan and
Central Asia; advancing the interests of women with disabilities in
all advisory bodies; protecting the rights of women with
disabilities; development of political leadership; promoting an
active life position; overcoming stereotypes on the issue of
disability in society; development of gender equality; public
awareness on the reproductive rights of women with disabilities;
diversity and equality; and cooperation and development.
• Extensive experience in implementing programs, both locally and
internationally

5. EN PROJECT PARTNERS
The Association of Social Workers, Disabled People
and Volunteers
Established in 2006
• Mission: contribute to development of social service practice and
modernized social services to various categories of population in
difficult life situation
• Focus on: publication of Social work-Social service magazine;
publication of Information Directories and methodological
manuals; provide trainings for enhancing the qualification to social
service workers that work with people in difficult life situation
targeting NGOs and governmental bodies of various levels.
• Implemented 9 projects

6. OVERVIEW of EN ACTIVITIES
INSTITUTIONAL
GRANTS TO 3 P-DPOs
EN PRESENTATION,
TRAINING FOR
TRAINERS (TOT),
NEEDS ASSESSMENT,
ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
TRAININGS (ODTs)
BUILDING DIALOGUE
WITH GOVERNMENTAL
BODIES
NATIONAL
ASSESSMENT

7. Results of Year 1
1) Training for Trainers for 25 participants including 3 P-DPO’s staff,
ARGO’s staff and partners
2) Building dialogue with governmental bodies (meetings with Ministry of
Culture and Information, Ministry of Transport and Communications,
Ministry of Education and Science)
3) After needs assessment ARGO defined the topics for institutional
development trainings (financial sustainability, leadership and strategic
planning) in 5 regions
4) Five organizational development trainings to 21 DPOs:
(1) Almaty for 21 participants
(2) Shymkent for 14 participants
(3) Semei for 11 participants
(4) Kostanai for 17 participants
(5) Aktobe for 11 participants
5) National Assessment Survey among 1500 people and 1000 PWDs
(results are being processed at present moment)

8. Photo gallery of EN Project

9. Photo gallery of EN Project

10. Communication about EN Project
• Launch the web-page about Empowerment Now! project on
www.cso-central.asia
• TV report on “Almaty – TV channel” about the presentation
and start-up of Empowerment Now!
• EN Projects’ announcements on the web-sites of P-DPO’s
SHYRAK and NAMYS
• Produced banners, brochures and other PR materials
• Distributed materials, USB drives, pens etc.

11. Achievements and success of EN Project
1) Technical Evaluation Committee approved the action plans of
the three partnering DPOs
2) Grant Committee selected 20 finalists and 5 alternate finalists for
ODTs from all regions of Kazakhstan
4) ARGO partners conducted needs assessment in 24 disabled
people’s organizations
5) As a result of consultations during needs assessment Ayagoz
DPO won a award from international donor organization
6) Searching hotels that can accommodate PWDs resulted in
reconstruction works at two hotels and KIMEP University
7) Five trainings based on needs assessment were conducted by
the staff of the three partnering DPOs and the three trainers from
ARGO’ partner organizations

12. Plans for Year 2
1) After receiving the final reports from the three
partnering DPOs: NAMYS, SHYRAK and ASWDP&V
design action plans for Year 2 and give them
institutional development grants
2) Collect the action plans from 21 DPOs
3) Launch ARGO’s website
4) Complete the national assessment and distribute
national assessment report to open public

13. Plans for Year 2
5) Arrange round tables, press conferences
6) Distribute 11 small grants to local DPOs
7) Design nationwide public awareness campaign
8) Conduct nationwide public awareness campaign
9) Conduct public hearing in Astana
10) Reporting

14. Contact Information:
36 Zhandosov Street
Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050057
Тел.: +7-727-250 19 50
Факс: +7-727-250 1950
e-mail: info@argonet.org
Civil Society Development Association