U.S. Department of State Grant: American Corners Skills-Building Programs in Kazakhstan

Agency Name: U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan

Description:

The U.S. Embassy Nur-Sultan Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is looking for one to three partners to implement three nationwide skills-building programs at Kazakhstan’s ten American Corners. PAS is soliciting proposals from Kazakhstani and U.S. not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations to conduct programs on entrepreneurship, English writing, and promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with key audiences across Kazakhstan. These programs will share American values and culture and build the capacity of the patrons of the American Corners in Kazakhstan. Proposals addressing all three projects are welcome if the applicant can demonstrate the capacity to effectively implement all of them. 

Background:  

Since the opening of the first American Corner in Oskemen, Kazakhstan’s American Corners have become widely-recognized, full-fledged cultural centers that provide emerging leaders in Kazakhstan with a place to learn more about the United States and U.S. study options, improve their English, and interact with Americans. Kazakhstan now has ten American Corners which offer an array of programs, both in-person and virtually, to provide high-quality cultural and educational programs to American Corner patrons. As part of its tech-forward mission, some Corners host Maker Spaces with state-of-the-art design, prototyping, and audio-visual equipment to support business start-ups, entrepreneurs, creative professionals, and to promote STEM with youth. Dedicated American Corner staff provide training and mentor visitors to help them complete their projects. All services and events are free to the public. 

American Corner programs are planned in consultation with host institutions and the Public Affairs Section. Programming should be free to the public and may utilize the help of local partners.  Kazakhstan’s ten American Corners are located in:  

• Aktobe 
• Almaty 
• Karaganda 
• Kostanay 
• Nur-Sultan 
• Oral 
• Oskemen 
• Pavlodar 
• Petropavlovsk 
• Shymkent  

Applicants should submit proposals addressing at least one of the following priority themes to be implemented at each of the ten American Corners. Proposals should state how they will engage and partner with the American Corners and American Corner coordinators. Proposals should include virtual program contingency plans in case offline programs are not possible during implementation. Proposals addressing more than one of the following themes are allowed if the applicant demonstrates the capacity to effectively do so. Proposals should specify in which language (English, Kazakh, Russian) the programs will be offered.   

Priority Region: In-person activities should be carried out in collaboration with one or more American Corner and Maker Space located in the following cities: Aktobe, Almaty, Karaganda, Kostanay, Nur-Sultan, Oskemen, Oral, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, and Shymkent. 

Virtual activities should be open to participants from all regions of Kazakhstan.    

Theme 1: Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship, Job Creation, and Innovation  

Funding Amount: $14,000  

Goal: The American Corners will offer a countrywide program to support Kazakhstan’s economic growth by promoting entrepreneurial values through training.  

Objectives (both of the following):  

1. Teach 200 youth participants essential soft skills for career development for up to three months. Through a series of classes, the target audience will develop soft skills, learn how to build/plan their careers, and learn basic financial literacy tools.   
2. Increase entrepreneurial knowledge and business skills of 200 youth participants so that they can create and scale their projects within a three-month period. The participants should be able to apply business concepts (i.e., audience/customer analysis, marketing, pricing, increasing sales, record-keeping etc.) to develop an “action plan” of concrete steps to start or improve their businesses.    

Priority Audiences: 

1. Youth, 14-25 years old, at least 50% women and girls 
2. High school and college students 
3. Young professionals, such as current/aspiring entrepreneurs   

Theme 2: Promoting Study in the United States  

Funding Amount: $14,000   

Goal: American Corners will offer a countrywide English writing workshop on the U.S. college admission process to strengthen students’ English writing ability, which will lead to an  increase in the number of Kazakhstani students applying and admitted to U.S. institutions. The project should also actively engage U.S. exchange program alumni and EducationUSA in these efforts, who can be recommended by the American Corners or Mission Kazakhstan.  

Objectives (both of the following): 

1. Teach 200 youth and high school/college counselors about the U.S. higher education system, how and when to apply to colleges, how to apply for scholarships, etc., through a training program of up to six months.   
2.  Teach 200 students and high school/college counselors supporting students interested in studying in the United States on how to effectively write competitive essays. 

Priority Audiences:  

1. High school and university students 
2. Young professionals 
3. High school and college counselors/international office representatives 

Theme 3: Bootcamp for Teachers: Mentoring STEM Projects  

Funding: $2,500  

Goal: The American Corners will host a countrywide virtual STEM bootcamp for teachers to advance innovation, environmental stewardship (priority will be given to proposals focused on climate change or air quality), and support Kazakhstan’s economic diversification by promoting technology and innovation.   

Objectives: 

1. Engage 100 STEM teachers from across STEM disciplines in a series of interactive sessions for professional development training, facilitated by experts and experienced STEM educators.   
2. Train 100 STEM teachers how to better mentor students outside the classroom and motivate students to participate in extra-curricular STEM-related opportunities, for example Maker Space projects, STEM subject-related Olympiads.   

Priority Audiences:  

1. STEM teachers at secondary schools 
2. Teachers from economically disadvantaged cities   

B. Federal Award Information  

Funding Mechanism Type:  Cooperative Agreement or Grant 

Estimated Total Project Funding: [1-3] 

Estimated Award Ceiling: [$30,500] 

Estimated Award Floor: [$2,500] 

Length of Project Period: 9-12 months  

Anticipated program start date: [September, 2021] 

Proposals addressing all of the stated themes are welcome if the applicant can show the capacity to effectively implement the projects. The Public Affairs Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.