European Union

ALMATY, 11 August 2010 – Leadership training courses for the leaders and activists of 14 public organizations of women with disabilities in Kazakhstan will take place from 12 till 14 August 2010 in Almaty and from 16 till 18 August 2010 in the cities of Atyrau and Astana. The purpose of the training courses is not only to develop personal management skills but also to assist in the establishment of network activities of these organizations to lobby the interests of their target groups.

Leadership training courses are part of a two-year project to build the leadership capacity of disabled women's organizations and to promote the dialogue with public authorities on the issues of gender equality and disability, implemented by the Association of Women with Disabilities 'Shyrak' and the International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC). The project has received financial and technical support from the European Union in the amount of approximately 150,000 Euros. It has been also supported by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the British Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Soros Foundation Kazakhstan.

As of today, the project has provided for the creation of the Network of Organizations of Women with Disabilities comprised of fourteen NGOs from South, West and Northeast Kazakhstan. As a result of two previous women's leadership trainings, their participants developed and implemented local mini-projects on socially important issues. It is expected that not less than 35 representatives of those organizations will be able to take part in the forthcoming training courses.

The trainings will be aimed at developing strategic thinking, presentation and negotiation skills, identifying and prioritizing focus areas of work, fundraising and organizational development. Special attention will be paid in the course of the trainings to the organization and holding of public campaigns promoting the interests of women with disabilities within a national network of public organizations. The trainings will be facilitated by professional Kazakhstani trainers in cooperation with INTRAC international trainers competent in disability and gender matters.

Media are kindly invited to attend the opening sessions of the trainings due in Almaty, Atyrau and Astana on the following dates:

• Almaty, 12 August at 09.30 a.m., 'Alatau' sanatorium, conference room (1st floor);
• Atyrau, 16 August at 09.30 a.m., 'Dana' Hotel, conference room (1st floor);
• Astana, 16 August at 09.30 a.m., ASPiR Building (4 Beibitshilik Str.), conference room (8th floor)

Prior accreditation is requested, for which purpose please refer to Ms. Zarina Kighizbayeva, Information Manager, 'Shyrak' Association, at tel.: +7 (727) 395-30-75, +7 701 655 62 56, zarina.kigizbaeva@gmail.com

For additional information please contact Ms Xenia Udod, Press and Information Assistant, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, at tel.: +7 (7172) 97-11-49 or by-email: Xeniya.Udod@ec.europa.eu.