After living in Central Asia for a year and engaging closely with the local community, I noticed a significant gap in health knowledge. Many people would quickly panic in medical situations simply because they did not know how to respond. For example, if someone fainted, bystanders often felt helpless, unsure of what to do.
Together with our healthcare team, including two nurses, we began thinking about how we could support the community. We wanted to provide knowledge that would not only reduce fear and anxiety but also bring people together and create something sustainable. That is when the idea of a first aid training programme was born—practical, engaging, and easy to replicate.
Since launching the training, we have been invited to different community groups several times, including those for mothers of children with special needs, kindergarten teachers, and mixed groups of people from various backgrounds. The response has been incredible. The interaction during training sessions has been lively, and the hands-on practice has led to a lot of fun and engagement. By the end of each session, people were exchanging phone numbers, strengthening community connections.
One of the most memorable moments for me happened during a break when a participant asked, “Why are you doing this? Why did you come all the way from your home country?” This question was a turning point—an opportunity to share the deep love in our hearts that motivates us to serve.
Through this training, we are not only equipping people with life-saving skills but also fostering a sense of community, trust, and openness. It has been a privilege to see how something as simple as first aid can bring people together and open doors for deeper conversations.
Kangaroo care and skin to skin contact between mother and newborn baby – these are vital practices unheard of in the local Kazakh neonatology hospitals.
Both organizations continue to work in partnership with the mom and her son and we are seeing positive changes in their lives.
Positioning and proper support for children with cerebral palsy is crucial to their development and also to interacting and engaging with their environment.
After living in Central Asia for a year and engaging closely with the local community, I noticed a significant gap in health knowledge. Many people would quickly panic in medical situations simply because they did not know how to respond.
“It is so important that you know your rights!”
Practical training like this empowers therapists to be more professional and to achieve better results in their treatment.