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Topic
Country
Change for every child in Kazakhstan
To a lot of people, Kazakhstan is still a mystery. After I published my first article, a lot of readers messaged me to know about the situation of children in Kazakhstan. On World Children’s Day, with the release of the Situation Analysis from UNICEF Kazakhstan, I am sharing my two cents in this article to cherish the tremendous achievements and indicate the remaining challenges ahead for every child in Kazakhstan Children and adolescents in Kazakhstan constitute 31.4% of the total population, which means 1 out of 3 citizens is a child. The vast proportion of children in Kazakhstan requires...
What are you waiting for?
If I hadn’t taken a gap year, I would have had the same life as every university student does in Hong Kong now (studying, tutoring and hanging out with friends). Simply, I ditched everything that I had in Hong Kong, and I started a new beginning in Kazakhstan as a United Nations Volunteer for UNICEF. Before I made this move, all of my friends were criticizing me about my decision. They were saying, ‘Why don’t you go to the volunteer programme after your graduation?’ ‘You are going to miss a lot because you are not getting immersed with us.’ Honestly, I also struggled a lot before I came here...
From a child to an advocate - 7 things I learned working in UNICEF
Six months, half a year or one hundred eighty-two days – this may seem like a short period of time but for me it is a mini-life journey, filled with challenges and new insights. I have been with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan as an international UN volunteer working on communications. As such, I have contributed to improving the visibility of the organization and the important work it is doing for every child. My contribution has varied: from writing and editing to pitching a partnership proposal and contributing to the launch of a new programme on volunteering. As I...
Mastery-learning
In recent years, there has been talk about the need to transform school education. Among the ideas is the transition to mastery learning, a system of learning every topic one hundred percent. Mastery learning is a way of learning in which the pupil moves forward at his or her own pace. In this approach, each topic is taught at 100% and only after the unit is completed does the student move on to the next one. The speed depends on initial knowledge, personal disposition, and desire. According to the mastery-learning concept, the ability of students should not be measured by the material they...
How Art Can be of Value During Self Isolation
It’s a time of tension with lots of cases of the novel Coronavirus being reported over the world. COVID-19 is now the most well known word wherever you live. By now, many of you know where it came from, but none of us is aware of when it will leave. When such times come none one is really prepared, and even those who seem to be are still hit un-aware. False information is spreading like wildfire, resulting in pressure on people and children. Fear has become a centerpiece of our reaction – accompanied by psychological pressure and stress. Quarantine and isolation in general are important to...
First...
If you close your eyes and I ask you to "think about 21st century", what comes to mind? Improvement of the health system? Progress? Prosperity of the economy? What is really going on in the world? Global warming and climate change are destroying animals and the environment, the situation in Yemen is still there, children are dying. Development or collapse of humanity? People continue to explore other planets, in search of a new Home. Why? What is the point of moving to another place if we simply cannot keep our Present Home. People have come a long way, from wars to modernising technology to...
The Right to Education of Children and Youth
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the youth and children, especially those from Africa and other developing countries, cannot be underestimated. The issues of travel bans and public transport means, prohibitation of social gatherings and quarantines significantly impact education at all levels, both within countries and internationally. Developing countries have less robust education systems that may significantly experience breakdowns of their education at all levels, while the desire of most young Africans to acquire formal education will be crushed. The most immediate remedy to...
It is time to unite behind the science and save lives
You're Not Alone
Who are you Yesterday, Today Who do you want to be Tomorrow, Next week, Next Month, Next Year Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the future, and forget about living in the moment. Or should we not be ignorant about what will happen tomorrow. It's never a straight road any day but you're not alone
International Day of the Girl: Letters from girls in Uganda
Walking your walk to success
Dream big, work hard and success will be yours – anonymous ______________________________________________________________________ Admiring others is human, but a faulty desire to be like them is a bleach to your own personality and branding. It becomes an error to self-love. Changing your status on account of other individuals is a folly. "Walk the walk" is a radiant saying. Many young and old people are growing in soul, spirit and mind each day that passes, every year. The world is a no better place to live without personal appreciation. Dreams can become reality, but everyone is lost in a...
My experience of volunteering in Kazakhstan (project "BeKind" and "BeGreen")
Hello everyone! My name is Assylan. I live in the city of Karaganda is the mining capital of Kazakhstan. Population - 500,000 people. My volunteering experience has arrived at 15 years. I was elected to a youth organization and represented the interests of young people in the government. I helped people with disabilities, orphanages and nursing homes. A more serious volunteering began during a pandemic together with the UNICEF branch in Kazakhstan and the "National Volunteer Network" organization. I passed distance learning and became a volunteer of a project "BeKind" for the prevention of...
My experience of participation in the UN Models
I am a very curious active young man since childhood. I was always interested in politics, discussions and solving global problems. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a diplomat and represent the Republic of Kazakhstan at the international level. The United Nations model (UN model) is the synthesis of a scientific conference and role-playing game, during which students and students of high schools in several official UN languages reproduce the work of the bodies of this organization, acquire diplomatic, leadership, spectacular and language skills and the ability to come to a compromise The...
How computer games help me in education (Civilization V, Titan Quest)
I was born on July 18, 2001. My first computer appeared at me 9-10 years and I have been fond of games from childhood. The first game, which imposed a strong imprint on my education - "Titan Quest". This is a game in the genre of Action / RPG. This game introduced me to mythology of different peoples: ancient Greece, ancient Egypt, Babylon, Scandinavian myths and not only. When you play this game, you get acquainted with the features of the architecture of different nations, get acquainted with their culture, trade and history. You can meet the king of Leonid, visit the Great Babylon, the...
STEM education
Today I was attending a webinar that relates to the theme: Steam4all: Accelerating gender equalities. So, did you know that there is only 28% of women STEM workforce representation around the world. Plus, Future-of-jobs will be technology and sciences, therefore women need to be well equipped with STEM skills to enter the workforce. I have heard lots of stories of women fighting with stereotypes. Like if you are entering to study mathematics or physics where there is a so-called “boy’s club” you have to prove you are smart enough and show your abilities to compete with others. I have learned...
A message to the world from Lucky
Transforming Education in Uganda
Of course I am going to start with the famous Nelson Mandela quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” because I have always believed in that statement. For context, I am currently a law student in the oldest university in the East African region, Makerere university (est: 1922), and I went to the oldest school in my country, Mengo Senior School (est: 1895) I have also studied in Uganda all my life, so I am an expert witness by experience if you believe in that sort of thing (that’s a joke). I am writing this in order to add my voice to the United...
Talents wanted
It amazes me how talented people are. I watched a video today of a girl who painted a picture with paint and sea waves. Yes, that's right, sea waves. She simply applied paint to a piece of paper and then gently dipped it in the sea. With the help of the waves, the colors spread out on the sheet of paper, creating a background for the drawing. Then the artist began to paint the picture. I wish I could show you, but it turned out beautiful, unusual and very original. In fact, all brilliant is simple. I don't have this talent, but I can also do what I'm good at, which is writing. It gives me...