On Thursday, June 1, in Astana, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov visited the Center for supporting children in difficult situations.

Head of the Government talked to the children living there, got acquainted with the conditions of their life and education. He was shown classrooms, a play area, dormitories and dining room, and told about the work being conducted with the children and support to them after graduation.

Alikhan Smailov congratulated the children of the center on the International Children's Day.

"This is a special holiday for us, because children are our future! We want you to grow up healthy, smart and successful, get a good education. And the state will continue to create all necessary conditions for this," Prime Minister said.

He noted that the President pays special attention to social protection of orphans and their upbringing in families. Over the past 10 years the number of orphanages in the country has decreased by 41% and the number of children in them by 65%. Today, there are 116 such institutions in the country, where about 3,700 children live.

"We want every child to live and be raised in a family. That is why by the end of the year there will be legislation to introduce the institution of professional foster families. Our goal is for all children to be brought up in families. Then orphanages will be a thing of the past," Alikhan Smailov said.

Nadezhda Malakhova, a 9th grade student, presented the Prime Minister with a picture painted by children from the center. In turn, children received sweet gifts, bicycles and scooters.

Alikhan Smailov talked to the graduates of the institution Gulzat Gazeeva and Maria Zakharova, who are now working here as tutors, and the head of the Association of Alumni of Children's Homes of Kazakhstan Raphael Hasanov and director of the center Bibigul Takisova.

The Head of Government answered in detail the questions concerning the orphans and children left without parental care. In particular, he spoke about measures to provide them with housing and education.

According to him, today children of these categories have a priority right to obtain housing. They are legally allocated at least 20% of housing from the municipal housing stock or leased by the akimats in the private housing stock.

"This year, more than 100 billion tenge is allocated from the national budget to buy rental apartments for socially vulnerable groups of the population. Not less than 20% will be given to orphans and children left without parental care. In addition, each region has its own comprehensive plans for the support of this category of children, which include measures to provide housing at the expense of extra-budgetary and sponsor funds," Smailov said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that for children from socially vulnerable categories a quota for education is provided for such children as today it is 1% of the approved state educational order. As practice shows, this amount is sufficient, but the government is ready to review its size if necessary.

During the conversation, the Director of the Center Bibigul Takisova also asked the Prime Minister to assist in the construction of a sports field in the territory of the institution. Alikhan Smailov instructed the Akim of the city Zhenis Kasymbek to solve this issue as soon as possible.

To date, 66 children aged 3 to 18, including 28 orphans, live in the Center.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Protection of Children's Rights