Bulat Utemuratov Foundation and RAOUL Charity Foundation launch a joint Supported Employment project for young adults with autism spectrum disorder in Kazakhstan

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new large-scale project in Kazakhstan in partnership with the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation.

The project focuses on developing and piloting a Supported Employment model for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Kazakhstan. It aims to strengthen local capacity, support sustainable employment pathways, and integrate evidence-based Supported Employment practices into existing social service systems.

The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has long played a leading role in advancing social support for children with autism and their families in Kazakhstan. Over the last decade, its network of 13 Asyl Miras autism centers across 12 cities has supported more than 20,000 children through six structured early intervention programs, contributing to systemic improvements in access to autism services nationwide. Building on this strong foundation, the project reflects a shared commitment to developing practical, high-quality solutions that respond to real needs and can be sustained over time.

“This partnership is about moving from support to opportunity. Together with the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, we want sustainable employment to become a realistic and achievable step for young adults with ASD - and an important part of further developing our work in Central Asia.” — Mikhail Krivonos, International partner, RAOUL charity foundation | Insamlingsstiftelsen Raoul

“For us, this project is an important next step in strengthening the support system for people with ASD in Kazakhstan. As the young people we work with grow older, employment becomes one of the most pressing challenges. Our goal is to create a sustainable model that will enable young adults with ASD to realise their potential, while helping employers gain motivated and committed employees,” - noted Ainur Karbozova, CEO of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation.

Within this partnership, RAOUL Foundation acts as a methodological and training partner. We will support the adaptation of internationally recognised Supported Employment standards to the local context, train job coaches and specialists, provide supervision, and contribute to building a robust monitoring and quality assurance framework for the project.

The initiative is grounded in the core principles of Supported Employment: individual needs-based approach, zero exclusion, partnership with employers, and long-term workplace support — principles that align closely with the ongoing development of inclusive social services in Kazakhstan.

We look forward to sharing insights and learnings from this project as it progresses.