NGOs in Kazakhstan Improve Migrant Work Skills
In February, a working meeting of representatives from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) took place in Shymkent (Republic of Kazakhstan). The project “Addressing Cross-Border TB, M/XDR-TB and TB/HIV among Labor Migrants in the Republic of Kazakhstan” was discussed, with a focus on increasing effectiveness and potential of outreach workers and analyzing project performance.
Representatives of Project HOPE, the National TB Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Organization for Migration participated as experts.
Attendees included managers, coordinators, social and outreach workers from NGOs, as well as grant sub-recipients of eight regions where Project HOPE carries out its activities: Astana, Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Karaganda, Taraz, Taldykorgan and Shymkent.
Participants reviewed and analyzed the program’s achievements and challenges, and generated a list of solutions to some of the more urgent problems. NGO managers and coordinators developed action plans for each of their organizations. Outreach workers learned how to better inform and educate labor migrants.
Training sessions aimed to improve interpersonal communication skills between outreach workers and labor migrants. Issues of migration legislation and practical aspects of application were discussed. Participants also learned best practice in developing press releases and success stories.
“This is our first working meeting in such an interactive format,” said Bakhtiyar Babamuradov, Project Manager/Representative of Project HOPE in the Republic of Kazakhstan. “We were able to pay maximum attention to important details, to discuss the project activities, successes and difficulties, and to develop a plan for improvement of project effectiveness. Moreover, in the course of the meeting, the exchange of experience in work with labor migrants took place; the aspects of tuberculosis prevention and treatment among the target group were discussed. We will schedule similar meetings in the future.”