NUR-SULTAN – The Erekshe Tandau-Shelek Fund has launched the Lider Z project, a professional online school for people with disabilities, reported Ortcom.Kz.
Photo credit: Ortcom.Kz.
The training program offered at the school covers the most in-demand professions in the labor market. At the same time, the school helps individuals learn basic computer skills such as learning how to shop online, call a taxi, make appointments with doctors and buy medicines.
“We believe that the project participants will compete with industry leaders in the future. At this stage, we received more than 130 applications and 60 of these participants were selected for training at an online school,” said Program Director of the Erekshe Tandau-Shelek Fund Zakhira Begaliyeva.
Training will be held in the Kazakh and Russian languages. It includes courses on typography, social media marketing and graphic design. The developers will constantly update the teaching methodology based on the needs of the students.
According to Begaliyeva, approximately 695,000 persons with disabilities live in Kazakhstan and 424,000 of them are part of the working age population.
The fund conducted a survey among people with disabilities this spring. Statistics showed that half of the respondents did not possess basic digital skills or literacy. But many want to work in the field of digital technologies.
“About 33 percent of the respondents want to learn a programming language. Some people also want to learn computer skills for future employment,” she noted.
At the same time, the survey shows that employers are ready to hire people with disabilities if they have the necessary skills and competencies.
“Our courses are different from other learning platforms because they are adapted for persons with disabilities. We consider all the needs of persons with disabilities including visual impairments and speech impairments,” said Begaliyeva.
The fund will also encourage participants to take part in the internship program in the Zerde infocommunication holding and Astana Hub Technopark.
