With Elections in Sight, Activists in Kazakhstan Prepare to Increase Women’s Leadership

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By:  WLP Team
WLP Kazakhstan training 2019

In January 2019, WLP’s partner in Kazakhstan, Shymkent Women’s Resource Center (SWRC), hosted a workshop on leadership and women’s political participation. SWRC hosted the event in partnership with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.  The three-day training included activists from around the country as well as from Georgia. Together they discussed ethical politics, explored negotiation techniques, and enhanced their skills in coalition building and networking in advance of Kazakhstan’s elections in 2020.

6
%
The percentage of senate seats held by women in Kazakhstan’s parliament. Civil society organizations like WLP Kazakhstan/SWRC are working to change this. Source.

This is the sixteenth such event to be held in Central Asia since 2014. To date, more than 350 experienced activists have taken part in these advanced training institutes organized by WLP partners in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Afterwards, they have gone on to implement over 65 step-down trainings, where they share the knowledge and skills they gained with local women and men in their communities.

 

View photos from the workshop below, and click here to browse some of the WLP resources they used for this training.

 

Three participants at the January training
Workshop participants are chosen based on their experience and dedication to
advancing gender equality and promoting women’s leadership. 
Women politicians work on their presentation
A group of women politicians work on their presentation.
WLP curriculum used
The curriculum for the workshop included WLP’s manuals Leading to Choices and Leading to Action.
WLP roleplay
Participants act out a roleplay during the session “How important is gender?”
Gulnara Karakulova WLP Kazakhstan
Gulnara Karakulova, President of WLP’s partner in Kazakhstan, SWRC.
WLP methodology
WLP’s methodology encourages inclusive and horizontal leadership. 
WLP manuals in Russian and Kyrgyz
WLP manuals are available in more than 20 languages, including Russian and Kyrgyz for Central Asian activists.
WLP facilitator
A facilitator from Georgia presents a session on creating coalitions and networks.
WLP Kazakhstan training 2019
All of the workshop attendees will go on to hold step-down trainings in their own communities.
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