Kazakh Business Leaders Engage Harvard Scholars to Help Orphans

July 11, 2024, 18:30

Source: Press Service of the Ana Uyi Foundation

Top experts from Kazakhstan and around the world gathered in Astana to address one of the most complex societal challenges — orphanhood.

Forum "The Best Place for a Child is a Family", 11.07.2024

The first international forum "The Best Place for a Child is a Family" was held in Kazakhstan by the Ana Uyi Foundation. It featured high-level international participation, drawing experts from the USA, Turkey, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and other countries. Over 200 participants gathered at the National Museum of Kazakhstan.

A Strategic Partner of the State

Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Bibigul Asylova, emphasized that the Ana Uyi Foundation is a strategic partner of the state in safeguarding children's rights: "Caring for the most vulnerable is not only a moral obligation but also a path to a humane society," she noted.

Philanthropists' Contributions

One of the project's initiators, Aidyn Rakhimbaev, shared that the Ana Uyi Foundation has saved 10,000 children from orphanhood. "By supporting mothers during their hardest times, we kept 7,000 babies in their birth families and placed another 3,000 in foster homes, including 200 with serious diagnoses. Total philanthropic investment exceeded $17 million," he stated.

Global Experts

Harvard University professor Junlei Li and University of Pittsburgh professor Tracy Larson attended the forum. They conducted a workshop for guardianship officials and NGO leaders, focusing on developing professional foster families.

Recognition and Global Outreach

The UN recognized the Ana Uyi project as a flagship of Kazakh philanthropy. The foundation launched an international arm — Mother’s Home International Foundation (MHIF) — with pilot centers in Ukraine and Uzbekistan and a branch registration process underway in Malaysia.

A Common Goal

There are still 4,000 children in orphanages in Kazakhstan. To place them into families, 1,000 foster families must be trained. This mission requires joint effort from business, government, and society.

Business Community Support

The foundation is supported by Kazakhstan's top business leaders, including Murat Abdrakhmanov, Galimzhan Yessenov, Islambek Salzhanov, Alidar Utemuratov, Eduard Kim, Bauyrzhan Isabayev, Askhat Omarov, ERG, Kanat Shagirov, Berik Kaniyev, Yermek Ashkenov, Andrey Lavrentyev, Samat Daumov, Gaziz Kusaiyn, Aidos Mukhataev, Almaz Tultayev, Kazakhmys, Yerlan Atazhan, Rustem Usmanov, Abai Nurgaliev, Timur Sarkulov, and Arsen Tomsky.