The “Road to School” campaign to provide support for schoolchildren from low-income families and orphans in the Pavlodar region began on Aug. 1 and will continue until Sept. 30.
This year’s campaign is being conducted under the heading “Give the Good to Children” and is expected to provide a total of 86.6 million tenge (US$475,668) assistance to more than 9,500 school children.
Children in the region who are living with families that are not registered in the region will also be helped with clothing, shoes and school supplies, according to Korlan Kuspekova, deputy chief of the department of education. All school children in the region should be at their desks on Sept. 1.
In the North Kazakhstan region, more than 8,000 children from socially vulnerable families will also receive assistance through the “Road to School” campaign. More than 200,000 tenge (US$1,099) has been allocated so far from the region’s educational fund for assistance to children there from low-income families and those without parental care.
Among the first students to receive aid under this year’s programme were students from Kozhabergen Zhyrau High School No. 6.
“We have eight children from large families, four without parents, 13 from low-income families. Today, we give children backpacks and stationery. I think it’s a huge help from the state for such families. They need it,” said Zhadyra Kospayeva, a social worker at school No. 6.
More than 50,000 children overall have been helped by the campaign since 2007 at a cost of more than 208 million tenge (US$1.14 million).Each year, local akimats (administrations), government agencies, large enterprises as well as urban and rural businessmen participate in the campaign, according to the regional department of education. Also this year, fairs will be held in districts and cities in which businessmen will sell school supplies at discount prices.
“Road to School” is organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan. Its purpose is to support children from low-income families in their preparation for the new school year, to draw attention to the problems of families in difficult circumstances and to create conditions for charitable activities of organisations and citizens.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan allows all citizens to help child in need providing various forms of assistance, including school supplies and clothing, office equipment or teaching aids, furniture, toys, household appliances and sports equipment, food or books. These items help prepare children for the new school year and improve conditions for learning and recreation.
