Inspire the Growth of Kazakhstan's Global Citizens

The world of Paralympic sports isn’t one that Salem has ever had much reason to encounter, but earlier this year we got to know all about the sport of boccia. Similar to bowls and petanque, it was originally developed for people with coordination impairment, and is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. These days, it is very popular among disabled people, especially in the Russian-speaking world, and is a great way for these young people to find greater purpose and socialisation.

Through the initiative of a Russian charity which supports disabled people gaining greater access to sporting participation, Salem had the opportunity, in partnership with the Shymkent Marathon, to provide high quality wheelchairs donated by Medline Industries to two young people, Aighul, 12, and Abrorbek, who is seven.

They are both keen boccia participants, but know all too well the challenges of playing in old wheelchairs that are a hindrance to their sports activities due to poor manoeuverability and the endless repairs that are needed. They were both amazed at how easy it was to get around in their new equipment with their high quality tyres.

Aside from those with sporting ambition, there are many families here who have children with cerebral palsy. For them, basic mobility is always a challenge. While government services have improved a lot over the last 20 years, they are often under-funded and unable to provide all that families need. Mothers have to carry children in their arms even once they've grown big enough to become a heavy load, there is simply no other way to get about.

We were recently able to pass on a first ever wheelchair to a six year old, Amina. Her family had applied to the government to get one, but were still waiting. Their very limited household income meant they had no other options, and Amina’s mum was so excited by finally being able to take her daughter out and about without having to carry her.

Aksultan’s family have a similar story – he is seven, and had been issued with a state-funded wheelchair, but due to its poor quality his family rarely used it and preferred carrying him around when needed. They were very pleased to be the recipients of another Medline wheelchair.

Aruke who is 12, also has cerebral palsy. Her family was able to obtain a wheelchair through a government program, but it proved very hard to manoeuvre, and the wheels had to be constantly inflated and repaired. In her new wheelchair, passed on by Salem, she found it so easy to use that she was immediately navigating around on her own, delighted and grateful for the precious gift of mobility.

Salem Social Village has always been about bringing change. Change to people, change to families, change to turn bad situations into something better, or difficult circumstances into a hopeful future.

Over the years, we've seen many people helped in many positive ways, whether by a wheelchair, a new perspective, a helping hand or simply a kind word and a friendly smile.

Our ultimate goal, however, remains bringing change to the culture: not in the sense of the traditions and cultural expressions of Kazakhstan, but in the way that people think, the assumptions they hold, their deeper understanding of the world around them. 

During the last 15 years, the culture here has changed a huge amount. Growing prosperity has led to greater opportunities and expectations, and the consumerist mindset has taken root: defining oneself by the coffee I drink, the clothes I wear, the things I post on social media. Value is understood as what I have.

Yet the natural endpoint of that way of life is an endless chase after more. I am never quite satisfied.

One of the things we see getting lost is the natural rhythms of life, the chance to stop and rest, to experience satisfaction. And then start again. 

If I never have enough, every moment needs to be put to use in earning more, posting more, obtaining more. Rest days are lost days if the only measure is money.

But Salem is trying to operate on a different basis, demonstrating another approach.

At Salem, August every year is time to stop, take a break, and rest satisfied at the end of the academic year before the next one begins.

Embracing the rhythms.

And so there isn't much to report this month. The teachers have taken the month off, the site staff are busy doing repairs, and the team is shortly to return to full speed ahead as a new semester commences.

There will always be more students to enroll, classes to teach, people to help, ways to influence. But for now, we're busy being grateful and satisfied in what we have, and embracing those rhythms that bring us life.

Thanks for supporting us as we embrace a different rhythm.