Press releases
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan and Chevron announce extension of the MoU on “Makerspace Expands!” program
Almaty, Kazakhstan – October 23, 2023 – U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel Rosenblum and Chevron Eurasia Business Unit Managing Director Derek Magness signed an agreement today to extend a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan and Chevron on the “Makerspace Expands!” program.
Annually, the program enables thousands of Kazakh youths to access science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) training resources through a network of Makerspaces - collaborative workspaces where audiences learn by making, exploring, and sharing ideas - across Kazakhstan. There are currently six operational Makerspaces throughout the country in Almaty, Astana, Aktobe, Oskemen, Oral, and Pavlodar.
“The goal of the partnership is to empower young people with the knowledge and skills needed to be competitive in the global market today and provide them access to high-tech resources, innovative programs, like-minded peers, viable business connections, and inspiring mentors,” said Ambassador Rosenblum in his speech at the event.
The “Makerspace Expands!” program was launched in 2020 and since then, three fully equipped Makerspaces have been opened and the remaining three already in operation have been upgraded. Makerspaces provide access to modern high-tech equipment, expert-led courses, and mentoring to the public free of charge. In the past year alone, nearly 16,000 Kazakh youths have taken advantage of “Makerspace Expands!”. The MOU extension signing marks the parties’ intention to bolster the number of the Makerspaces and their countrywide reach for at least another three years. Moreover, it serves as a significant milestone in the U.S. Mission-Chevron partnership and joint investment in the development of Kazakhstan’s human capital, which to date amounts to 900,000 USD in expenditures under “Makerspace Expands!”
“The Public-Private partnership with the U.S. Mission is one of our signature programs in Kazakhstan, and we are proud of its outcomes: since 2015, thousands of participants attended our courses in robotics, IT, video production, critical thinking and took part in championships, hackathons and workshops. Many of them chose STEAM as their career path,” Mr. Magness said. “We are looking forward to expanding our cooperation with the U.S. Mission and create new Makerspaces across the country that would help reach out to more young people and create opportunities for them to get STEAM education, extend career boundaries and prosper for the benefit of Kazakhstan.”
Makerspaces offer regular courses and workshops in the development of in-demand applied skills in programming, robotics, 3D modeling, visual content creation, and beyond. They engage high school and university students, as well as young professionals looking to broaden their skillsets, improve their educational and career prospects, and join a community of like-minded peers. The broader “Makerspace Expands!” program is not limited to the development of technical skills. It promotes creativity, artistic expression, and supports the strengthening of creative industries in Kazakhstan through projects administered by a network of partners.