First alumni received SAMGAU (UPSHIFT) program certificates
NUR-SULTAN, 23 July 2021 – In December 2020 UNICEF Kazakhstan in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MLSPP) and the Community of Youth Workers launched SAMGAU (UPSHIFT) program to strengthen social entrepreneurship skills of adolescents and youth using innovative experimental learning methods.
The first cycle of social entrepreneurship training for adolescents was started in February 2021 with over 400 participants. As a result of the first cycle the training participants formed 17 teams. 9 teams were selected for the further mentoring programme. These teams started realization of their ideas into the projects and subsequently received certificates.
Today, the training participants awarded with grants and certificates are the first SAMGAU/UPSHIFT alumni.
"Using the UPSHIFT methodology, which is a flagship initiative of the UNICEF Innovation Lab, our program incorporates best practices for the youth development in order to help young people learn social innovation and entrepreneurship skills," Nauryzbay Nurlybay, Chairman of the Council of the Community of Youth Workers, said.
Daniyar Nurpeisov, Head of the Project Office established within the MLSPP and UNICEF joint project, expressed gratitude to the Community of Youth Workers for the successful implementation of the program and welcomed the first alumni.
"I hope that this program will continue to develop and expand the numbers of the adolescents involved and will give good support to develop strong personalities for our country," the Head of the Project Office added.
Tatiana Aderkhina, UNICEF Education Specialist, noted that the program will have a positive impact on local communities on a wider scale as young people build their life and entrepreneurship skills.
SAMGAU/UPSHIFT alumni projects are available on the website of the Community of Youth Workers: jashome.org.
SAMGAU/UPSHIFT is a program of UNICEF and MLSPP for young people with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups (young people with HIV and other chronic diseases, disabilities, left without parental care).
Using the UPSHIFT method, a flagship initiative of the UNICEF Innovation Lab, the program combines best practices in youth development, social innovation and entrepreneurship for young people.
Media contacts
About UNICEF
UNICEF works to ensure the rights and well-being of every child. Together with its partners, UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information on UNICEF's work, visit www.unicef.org. Subscribe to our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
