Kazakhstan Advances Digital Inclusion with AI Training for Rehabilitated Youth – The Astana Times

Report on Digital Transformation Initiatives in Kazakhstan and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview: The ReStart Initiative

Kazakhstan is advancing its digital transformation agenda with a focus on social inclusion through the ReStart project. This pilot initiative is designed to support the rehabilitation and social reintegration of a key vulnerable group.

• Mission: To facilitate the rehabilitation and social adaptation of young people who have completed prison sentences.
• Target Beneficiaries: Youth aged 14 to 35 who were formerly incarcerated.
• Implementation Period: March 2025 to November 2026.
• Geographic Scope: Astana, Karagandy region, and Akmola region.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education

The project directly supports SDG 4 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. A key component was the training seminar, “Ideas Come Alive Through Artificial Intelligence,” held on October 30.

1. Objective: To introduce participants to the creative and practical applications of AI tools for personal development, aligning with the need for relevant technical and vocational skills.
2. Curriculum: Under the guidance of designer Aida Saukymbayeva, attendees received hands-on training with modern digital tools, including ChatGPT and Canva.
3. Practical Outcomes: Participants developed tangible digital projects such as posters, resumes, social media content, and short stories, thereby acquiring marketable digital literacy skills.

Advancing SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

By integrating digital skills training with social rehabilitation, the ReStart project makes significant contributions to fostering economic growth and reducing inequality.

• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: The program equips participants with employable skills necessary for the modern workforce. Training in resume creation and self-presentation directly enhances their capacity to secure decent employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: The initiative specifically targets a marginalized demographic, providing them with the tools and confidence needed for successful reintegration. This focus on a vulnerable group is a direct action to reduce inequalities within and among countries.

Supporting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice) and SDG 17 (Partnerships)

The project’s framework and collaborative nature underscore its commitment to building peaceful societies and leveraging partnerships for sustainable development.

• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: By supporting the successful rehabilitation of former offenders, the project contributes to building a more peaceful and inclusive society. It strengthens the institutional capacity for social adaptation, which is crucial for reducing recidivism.
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: The implementation of the ReStart project is a model of effective partnership, executed with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and reported by the Public Information Fund press service. This collaboration between government and civil society organizations is essential for achieving the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article focuses on a training seminar that provides digital skills to a specific group of young people, which aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The initiative aims to “build employable skills” among participants, directly contributing to the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The project specifically targets “youth who were formerly incarcerated,” a vulnerable and often marginalized group, to ensure they are not “left behind.” This directly addresses the goal of reducing inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting social and economic inclusion.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The core mission of the ReStart project is the “rehabilitation and social adaptation of young people who have completed prison sentences.” This supports the development of peaceful and inclusive societies by helping to reintegrate individuals and potentially reduce recidivism.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article explicitly states that the project is “implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan,” highlighting a partnership between a public fund and a government body to achieve the project’s objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.4 (under SDG 4): “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The seminar’s focus on training participants in practical AI tools like “ChatGPT and Canva to create digital projects including posters, resumes, social media posts, and short stories” directly aligns with this target of providing relevant vocational skills.
• Target 8.6 (under SDG 8): “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” Although the target year has passed, the project’s mission is directly relevant. It targets youth (aged 14 to 35) who have been through the justice system and provides them with skills training to help them enter employment or further education, thus addressing the issue of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
• Target 10.2 (under SDG 10): “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age… or other status.” The project’s mission to support the “social adaptation” and “social reintegration” of formerly incarcerated youth is a clear effort to promote the social and economic inclusion of a group defined by their “other status.”
• Target 16.3 (under SDG 16): “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” While the project is post-incarceration, its focus on “rehabilitation” is a key component of a just and effective justice system that aims to reintegrate individuals into society, thereby promoting a more inclusive and peaceful society.
• Target 17.17 (under SDG 17): “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article mentions the ReStart project is “implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan,” which serves as a direct example of a public-civil society partnership to achieve social goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 4.4: The article implies indicators through its description of the project’s activities. Progress could be measured by:
  • The number of young people participating in the training seminar.
  • The number of participants who successfully learn to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Canva.
  • The quantity and quality of digital projects (resumes, posters, etc.) created by the attendees.
• For Target 8.6: The article implies indicators related to skills and employment readiness. Progress could be measured by:
  • The number of formerly incarcerated youth aged 14-35 engaged in the skills training program.
  • An increase in participants’ self-reported confidence and employable skills, as the project helps them “regain confidence, build employable skills, and envision a positive future.”
• For Target 10.2: The article implies indicators related to social inclusion. Progress could be measured by:
  • The number of participants in the “social adaptation” program.
  • The successful reintegration of participants into society, which is the project’s stated mission.
• For Target 16.3: The article implies an indicator through the existence and scope of the program. Progress could be measured by:
  • The number of youth participating in the “rehabilitation and social adaptation” program across the pilot regions of Astana, Karagandy, and Akmola.
• For Target 17.17: The article provides a clear indicator for this target. Progress is demonstrated by:
  • The existence of the formal partnership between the Public Information Fund (implementing the ReStart project) and the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: astanatimes.com