KiVa Antibullying program is now available in Kazakstan

The Autonomous educational Organization “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools” has commissioned the KiVa School programme to its schools. Kazakhstan is thus the first Central Asian country to adopt an anti-bullying programme developed at the University of Turku.

After intensive negotiations for about two years and the visit of the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Chairman of the Executive Board, Anuar Zhangozin, to Turku last May, KiVa program will be available to schools in Kazakhstan.

The Autonomous educational Organization “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools” mission is to increase Kazakhstan’s intellectual capacity by integrating the best national and international practices and significant scientific achievements in school education. NIS counts 21 Intellectual schools accredited by the Council of International Schools, representing over 17.000 students and 2.700 teachers.

“Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools are highly committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment to our students. We believe that introducing the KiVa program through our collaboration with the University of Turku will have a positive impact on school communities in Kazakhstan,” says Anuar Zhangozin.

“We are very excited that KiVa is expanding to a new continent and will be available to schools in Kazakhstan in Central Asia”, says Johanna Kivinen, KiVa International program manager, in charge of KiVa operations outside of Finland.

Now that the coordinating team of the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools has completed the KiVa Training Course in October in Turku, the collaboration focuses on producing the KiVa materials in Kazakh language. The local team is responsible for the translation and localization work ensuring that KiVa materials are suitable to the local context. This materials production will last until summer 2024, after which, the first KiVa schools in Kazakhstan will be able to implement the KiVa program.

KiVa is an antibullying program that has been developed in the University of Turku, Finland, with funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture. KiVa is part of INVEST Research Flagship Centre.

The program is evidence-based which means that the effectiveness of KiVa has been proven scientifically. KiVa offers a wide range of concrete tools and materials for schools to tackle bullying.

More information
>> KiVa 
>> Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools

Photo above:
Aliya Abkenova (left), Senior manager of the Child Well-being department, and Yerkhat Sautbayev (right), Manager of the Child Well-being department, both KiVa coordinators at the NIS, being certified KiVa trainers at the training organized by the University of Turku. In between them are the three Program Coordinators at KiVa International, University of Turku, Anna Murgo, Katri Sohlman and Céline Kylänpää (from left to right).

Students from Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools