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Newsletter June–September #7

We have decided to start this quarterly newsletter to tell you what is happening at our Almaty Center and to involve you as much as possible in our activities. 

Paths

An Unusual Journey: The Ballerina Subarina Team in Almaty

This summer we had some truly special travelers visiting us – the team @ballerina_subarina, consisting of three friends from Italy and the Netherlands - Luca, Bass and Nico.
They took part in the legendary Mongol Rally — an incredible adventure of over 12,000 km across 13 countries, from Prague to Central Asia, in a small car completely unsuited for such roads! But their journey wasn't just about adventure. The guys set a noble goal for themselves—to support the foundation's environmental initiatives. Cool Earth and take part in the program remote support together with AVSI FoundationDuring their stop in Almaty, they met one of our boys and his family, offering them attention, warmth, and long-term support. The travelers also visited our Center and even sang with our choir—a touching and heartfelt moment we will long remember. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our identity with new people and forge new friendships that we hope will last for many years to come!

Visit of the Friends of Kazakhstan Association

In June-July we were delighted to host Agnese Baldisserotto, one of the founders and treasurer of the new Associations "Friends of Kazakhstan", created in Italy to support MASP initiatives. Agnese came to Almaty to learn more about our activities: she met with children, families, and staff at the Center, enthusiastically and curiously participating in our daily lives. During her stay, she made valuable contributions to the organization of logistical processes, sharing new ideas based on her extensive professional experience. Her presence was a shining example of friendship and collaboration and reminded us of the importance of building bridges of solidarity that connect people and cultures.

A special visit from Italy

In recent months, several Italian friends decided to come to Kazakhstan to visit friends living here, particularly in Astana, Karaganda, and Almaty. During this trip, they also visited our MASP Center to meet the staff and learn more about our work. It's very important for us to share our experiences with friends who share a love for this place. Meanwhile, over the summer, one of our MASP employees spent some time in Italy: it was a valuable opportunity to meet many friends, participate in meetings, and organize small sales of handicrafts created by MASP employees. These were rich moments, full of discoveries and new connections, bringing together long-time friends and newcomers, bound by a desire to move forward together. The visit of our Italian friends in September was a clear indication of this vibrant community and the sincere support that accompanies us and inspires us to move forward with hope.

A story

Bagdan

Bagdan is now 19 years old, but we at MASP have known him since he was just six. He has autism and a very high IQ. After his father abandoned the family, Bagdan's mother was left alone with him and his brother, supported by his grandmother. It was then, through municipal agencies and later through the "Remote Support" project, that we began to work with them on this journey. A crucial step in Bagdan's life was his time at the MASP outpatient rehabilitation clinic, where he worked with psychologist Natasha. Initially, his mother struggled with his autism diagnosis and tried to send her son to a "regular" school—but schools in Kazakhstan are not yet ready to accommodate children with special needs like his. Bagdan graduated from a special school and completed a three-month sewing course at MASP. For the past five months, Bagdan has been returning to the sewing course every week: he has learned to sew towels and other items for sale and also works with felt. He also attends the choir at our center. Today, Bagdan comes to the Center voluntarily, regularly participates in classes, and enthusiastically contributes to the activities. We are delighted because he is gradually finding his independence and inner balance. We believe that in the future, his talent for sewing can develop into a career, turning his skill into a profession.

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