Atyrau, Kazakhstan – Today Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) announced the results of the first stage of the Girls Education Initiative “Looking into the Future with Confidence” implemented by EFCA with the support of the Oblast Department of Children’s Rights Protection and the Atyrau Regional Department of Education. The project is funded by ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc. (ExxonMobil) as part of the company’s global Educating Women and Girls Initiative, aimed at equipping women and girls around the world with knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their economic potential.

In the 2009-10 academic year a program entitled “Choosing the Main Path” was introduced into 11 pilot schools, professional lyceum #4, the College of Medicine and the Atyrau College of Business and Law in order to teach leadership skills, provide career orientation, and teach basic financial literacy. The program participants will also be given computer classes under co-financing and methodical support of Microsoft.

In the course of the project 484 girls and 79 boys were taught on three blocks “Leadership”, “Professional Orientation”, “Financial Literacy”. During classes participants got familiar with outstanding women’s biographies, learnt about volunteerism, received information about various professions. Many of children grew more confident, got able to express their thoughts, and became more active in school activity.

 “Looking from aside it was nice to see children enjoying classes taught as a part of the program “Choosing the Main Path”, helping their trainer,” noted Mr. Bredgauer, Deputy Principal of school #1. “During the open lesson “Becoming a Leader” we saw our children’s achievements, they learnt how to present themselves, speak in front of the audience, without being uncomfortable to express their opinion. They could get connected with the audience, gave sound answers asked by guests.”

The “Choosing the Main Path” program allowed schoolgirls and young women to develop their leadership skills, become more self-confident, learn to work in a team and manage their own finances. This program will help participants to be successful in their finances, career, and personal lives, and will demonstrate the correct ways to manage resources in order to get the best possible results. This project will also familiarize participants with the volunteering concept. What’s more, the practical knowledge acquired through this project can be used in similar projects in Atyrau and other regions of Kazakhstan.

“ExxonMobil believes that investments in education and increased opportunities for women deliver profound and lasting benefits for all community members and serve as a catalyst for economic and social development. By investing in young girls’ development we are investing in the future of the region and the republic and we expect many success stories from the beneficiaries of this project,”said Patricia Graham, ExxonMobil’s Public Affairs and Government Relations Director.

Information about the program "Education Initiative "Looking into the Future with Confidence"