New schools, community center, and disaster relief – Bulat Utemuratov Foundation summed up the results of 2023

In 2023 the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation spent 40,3 billion tenge on projects in healthcare, education, and infrastructure as well as activities to help the victims of natural disasters. The Fund’s Board of Trustees took stock of the year and talked about the most impactful projects. Among those were the largest autism center in Kazakhstan, the first gymnasium school in Kosshy built to meet the “Comfortable School” standards, stone-laying of another school in Esik as well as helping those who were affected by the natural calamities in Kazakhstan and abroad.

This year the Foundation opened two new Asyl Miras Autism Centers, one in Astana and one in Semey. Speaking of which, it is worth mentioning that the floor space of the second, capital-based Asyl Miras Center is 1140 square meters. It is the largest center in Kazakhstan and receives up to 900 children a year. The new autism center in Semey is the only center in the region where 15 tutors can help approximately 300 children a year.

There is a total number of 13 functioning autism centers located in 12 cities in Kazakhstan. In 2023, the centers assisted 2889 children under six intervention programs, with 16000 children in total who have enrolled and completed their education since the launch of the program. The Foundation continues its active joint efforts with the global leaders in autism and, in 2024 it will continue its collaboration with such international experts as the Kasari Lab. at UCLA, Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, and the Naked Hearts Foundation.

The important news of 2023 was the intention to open the regional laboratory of the Kasari Lab. with its center located in Kazakhstan. This became possible thanks to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation and the global leader in autism research Ms.Connie Kasari (President of INSAR, International Society of Autism Research, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Human Development and Psychiatry at the University of California, USA).

With its “Autism. One World for All” flagship program, the Foundation continues implementing educational projects such as Green School and Jas leader Akademiyasy. In 2023, 41000 pupils in Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent as well as the regions of Turkestan, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl took part in two programs.

The Foundation focused on projects related to infrastructural development in 2023, having opened the new gymnasium school in Kosshy with the capacity to accommodate 3000 pupils and floor space of 16000 square meters. This is the first school in the country built in line with the standards of the National Project “Comfortable School”. Besides the discipline-focused classrooms with interactive panels, there are laboratories of physics, chemistry, and biology, diverse workshops, and computer classrooms. All classrooms are equipped with transformer desks which can be regulated to the children’s physical needs. There are robotics and 3D-modelling studios, virtual driving simulation classrooms, basic military training rooms, and medal and woodworking workshops. There are classrooms of sewing and carpentry, and workshops of pottery and visual arts. Built within a year, the school was gifted to the state.

Construction of a similar modern school for 900-capacity has begun in the town of Esik and commissioning of this state-of-the-art facility is scheduled for September 2024.

At the end of the year, a cornerstone of the new community center – a public cultural and sports complex with floor space of 8500 square meters – was laid. This center will have a cinema theater for 233 viewers, a lecture hall for 300 people, conference rooms, studios, libraries, exhibition halls, sports halls, a dance hall, art studios, 2 winter gardens, cooking studios, robotics classrooms, café, and many more options. This socially important object will be gifted to the state in spring 2025. The Community Center will be the second social object gifted by the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation to Kosshy.

Construction of the new terminal in Kyzylorda Airport is coming to an end. Nearly 85% of the works have been completed in under a year and the airport terminal will be commissioned in spring of 2024. The total area of a two-story terminal up to 7500 square meters.  The zones for local and international passengers will accommodate up to 220000 travelers a year.  The volume of cargo shipments is expected to increase from 150 tonnes to 240 tonnes per annum.  The terminal will be equipped with a jetbridge, escalators, and elevators, an automated luggage conveying and handling system, a hall for transit passengers, and a CIP hall. The new building will have self-check-in counters, prayer rooms, a Duty-Free zone, as well as specialized premises for the staff of the border and customs services, phytosanitary and veterinary services, sanitary and epidemiological control services as well as a transit police department.

Since 2018 the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has been helping people of Kazakhstan who found themselves in very difficult circumstances caused by natural disasters. Thus, in 2023 a financial support for about 300 families whose livelihoods were adversely affected by river floods in the villages of Kobda (Aktobe region) and Aksai (West Kazakhstan region). The support was provided under the Aid Card project carried out jointly by the Red Crescent of Kazakhstan and ForteBank. Both Kobda and Aksai villages happened to be at the epicenter of the disaster, where water flooded people’s houses with one meter of water. On top of this, disaster relief was provided to the victims of an earthquake in Turkey and families of miners who died in the Kostenko mine of Karagandy region.

Following a transfer of financial support to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey, the Embassy of the Turkish Republic has expressed special gratitude to the Foundation: “We highly appreciate the substantial and timely support provided in the best traditions of cooperation and mutual friendship of our brotherly nations”, said in the embassy’s letter Mr. Mustafa Kapuju, Turkish Ambassador in Kazakhstan.

For more than six years the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has been supporting the project of the Batyrkhan Shukenov Fund, aimed at supporting and developing creative projects. One such project is BAYSA – an audio podcast, which familiarizes its listeners with the history of musical culture.

“Ten Years of Transformative Work by the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation. In the last decade, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has significantly impacted various areas, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives. Notably, its dedication to supporting individuals with autism has been remarkable. The journey began with the establishment of the inaugural autism center in Almaty, which has since expanded into a successful network. Presently, the foundation operates 13 autism centers throughout Kazakhstan, benefiting nearly 16,000 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder through specialized behavioral intervention programs. The positive changes in these children’s life and social abilities have been inspiring, greatly assisting in their integration into society and adapting to various challenges. These initiatives underscore Kazakhstan’s dedication to fostering a fair and inclusive society”, – summed up Almaz Sharman, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.

Meanwhile, in Almaty, on December 7th, 2023, at a charity event organized by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum platform to celebrate the results of the philanthropic activities, Mr. Bulat Utemuratov received the inaugural “Philanthropist of the Year” award for his remarkable contributions to the social sphere.  The total amount of funds allocated for charity projects in the fields of culture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure was 150 million USD.