This center provides children with serious health impairments the opportunity to learn, develop, and socialize, which contributes to their independent living.
The center was founded in 2017 thanks to the efforts of the charitable foundation "YAVNA." The founders of the institution, Vadim and Natalia Yashiny, are raising more than 30 biological and foster children, and their desire to help those in need has become an integral part of their lives.
A turning point in Natalia's life occurred when she broke her leg and used a wheelchair for some time. This experience opened her eyes to the difficulties faced by people with disabilities.
The director of the center, Gulmira Takeeva, recalls Natalia's words: "Mom said that it was then she first acutely felt what people who cannot walk go through every day." It was at that moment that the idea of creating a school for children with developmental disabilities emerged.
Initially, the "School of Unlimited Opportunities" was located in the Yashiny's orphanage, but soon moved to an abandoned building of a boarding school in Sosnovka, which required significant restoration. Subsequently, they managed to acquire a plot of land and build a new, warm, and fully adapted building for children with disabilities. Eco-friendly materials were used in its construction, and the interior was carefully designed.
"We built a cozy, eco-friendly building, where the walls are made of straw covered with local clay, providing excellent thermal insulation. We use minimal plastic, mainly natural materials. It is warm here in winter and cool in summer. Classes are held year-round, without breaks. We created comfortable conditions, and the children feel it," shares the director.
Today, 22 children with various impairments, such as autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, are studying at the school. Although there are many more who wish to enroll, limited resources do not allow for all to be accepted. The educational program focuses not only on academic knowledge but also on the development of life skills. The corridors and classrooms are threshold-free, with wide doors, specialized furniture, and thematic rooms, such as the "sea room," contributing to comfort. The dining room has become a place where children learn to communicate, clean up after themselves, and even dance and sing. Many of them, who did not interact a year ago, are now taking their first steps towards communication and learning. The mission of the center is to change society's perception of children with disabilities.
Gulmira Takeeva, the director of the center, grew up in the Yashiny family, becoming their foster daughter, and continued her parents' work by taking children with developmental disabilities into her family.
"When I was first invited to help at the center, I was struck that I had never seen such children before. They are often hidden, embarrassed, and not recognized as individuals. But they are just like us; they need to be accepted and seen as people, not just a diagnosis," shares Gulmira.
According to her, the main task remains not so much teaching the children as changing adults' perceptions: "We teach parents to be proud of their children, not to hide them. These children want to live, learn, and make friends. For many of them, socialization— the ability to communicate and be independent— is more important than academic performance."
Over the years of the center's operation, about 50 children have passed through it. Some have learned to speak, others to walk and take care of themselves. The team of educators and specialists trained in inclusive education works effectively and cohesively.
"We grow together with our children," the center's staff asserts.
All classes and meals for the children are free; the center is funded solely by the charitable foundation "YAVNA" and donations from concerned citizens. Every day, a minibus picks up children with disabilities from various corners of the Jayyl district and the city of Kara-Balta, covering about 140 kilometers on broken roads. Recently, the minibus has frequently broken down, and the center is in urgent need of new transportation. "Kyrgyz citizens living in Germany have raised part of the funds for a new minibus, but an additional $11,000 is still needed to complete the financing. Solving this issue would allow the center to expand its capabilities and accept more children," the center reported.
