UNDP/UNV Project «Promoting Social and Economic Integration of Repatriates (Oralmans) to deliver a two-day workshop on Community Mobilization in partnership with the Akimat of Semei city

24-25 April 2010, Semei city – UNDP / UNV Project: "Promoting Social and Economic Integration of Repatriates (Oralmans) organized two-day workshop on Community Mobilization in partnership with the Akimat of Semei city. The East Kazakhstan region is the home for over 20,000 repatriates, but social integration is still a challenge. The purpose of the workshop is to increase the capacity of specialists working with immigrants, as well as to teach oralmans to establish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for implementing social projects.

The seminar was attended by members of volunteer coordinating committees, active oralmans, national volunteers. During the seminar issues of civic engagement in general and interaction of three sectors of the society - the state, NGOs and business were discussed. The organizers presented aims and objectives of NGOs, organizational and legal forms of NGOs, and the bases of fundraising, including participation in the state social order.

"We are trying to convince the repatriates that only hard work can improve their lives and enhance social integration. And the initiative should come from the people themselves. Our task is to convince repatriates that though the legally registered NGO they are able to carry out projects to solve the most pressing social issues of oralman", says the national UN Volunteer Zhanna Yergaliyeva.