Humanitarian Aid
Seven Trees supports needy families in several ways.
Food Packages
Part of the support is in the form of essential foods. Packages include products such as rice, sugar, tea, oil, fruits and vegetables and pasta. The packages are delivered by us on a regular basis, which is made possible with the financial donations of the supporters of Seven Trees. In addition, in collaboration with the Food Bank, we occasionally receive big amounts of chocolate or other candy and we can include them into the gifts we hand out on special occasions.
Coal
Heating with coal is more expensive than with gas, but many families cannot afford to switch to a gas connection. During the cold season, they depend on an additional delivery of coal to make it through the winter months. For families that cannot afford this extra expense, Seven Trees can sometimes help to provide some supply of this vital need.
Clothes
Seven Trees receives donations in the form of new and used clothes, toys, furniture, supplies for babies and other necessities from various organizations and private individuals. Families inform us of their needs and we can provide warm clothing for winter, shoes, school uniforms or whatever we have available.
Training
Seven Trees provides training for women, children and teenagers teaching life skills and English language and providing opportunities to meet as community.
Training for Children and Teenagers
Many of the children we work with don’t have the privilege to grow up in a stable family. We meet lots of children who don’t know how to handle stressful situations or disagreements, and get angry and aggressive easily. On the other hand, not many children have the opportunity to join a sports club, be part of a community or take language lessons. Therefore we host various training sessions for kids and teenagers. We talk about topics such as conflict resolution and friendships, and play games or do practical exercises to help them integrate the ideas into their life.
Training for Women
A core part of our work is offering training for women. We convey life skills by addressing topics they need for everyday life. A large percentage of the women have low self esteem, and we believe that supporting (and also positively challenging them), will give them a new perspective on their current situation in life and motivate them to take steps to improve it. We hope to create an environment where they feel safe to share about their life, and exchange experiences with other women in a similar position. The training sessions include craft times and opportunities for getting to know each other better, and growing in community.
English Club
Once a week, we organize an English Club for children and teenagers. Most of them live in our village or are from families in the region which we support. The English Club offers a great opportunity for the children to develop language skills while also making friends through games and creative activities. Since there are large numbers that attend, the children are divided into two groups that take turns between an English lesson and a craft session. In addition, there is time for outdoor activities such as table tennis or the trampoline. We are supported by volunteers from a language school and the AIWC who take the time to help out with the lessons.
Special Events
Seven Trees holds various events throughout the year for women and children to celebrate local holidays and provide a sense of community.
International Women’s Day – 8 March
The International Women’s Day on the 8th of March is a special holiday in Kazakhstan. Women and Mothers especially are honored on this day. We take advantage of this occasion to surprise the women we support with gifts. We start collecting hygiene and beauty products weeks in advance to make sure everyone receives a small gesture of appreciation and organize a festive celebration for the women.
Back to School
In the schools, the children are obliged to wear school uniforms. Without the mandatory outfit, the children cannot take part in the lessons. We make it a point that every child should be able to attend school and receive an education. Therefore, we provide educational supplies and clothes for the children.
Holiday gifts for New Year
This season (winter of 2025/26) we were able to hand out a total of 160 gifts to all the children we came in contact with over the year. Each present contained a hat, toy, sponsored by the AIWC and chocolate donated by the Food Bank. The team dressed up as Santa Claus and Snegurochka and took the time and drove to each family to hand over the gifts personally. Families in need were additionally gifted staple foods.
Children’s Day
In spring and fall, we organize Children’s Days in our village and in neighboring villages. We invite the children to spend some time with us, as we celebrate occasions such as the Children’s Day on May 1st, the Day of the Republic as well as the spring festival Nauryz. The day is filled with outdoor activities, games and crafts. Thanks to our volunteer chefs, it is made complete with a delicious traditional meal.
Collaboration with Other Organisations
Rehabilitation Center
Seven Trees supports a local Rehabilitation Center on a regular basis. The center houses about 10 women and 30 men with various backgrounds, often including a history with drug and or alcohol abuse. A few of them are able to support themselves financially, but they mostly depend on support from outside. Our workers visit the women of the center weekly, and help them through life skill classes. This support is very meaningful to the women, as they have someone to listen to their stories, worries and hopes. In addition to financial support and food donations, the women receive gifts for New Year and International Women’s Day.
Personal Stories
Big families and single mothers receive very little financial and practical support, and the tedious process of applying for this support makes it difficult to have help on time. Families in the society are experiencing an enormous amount of pressure. Handling the responsibilities of parenthood, while struggling with a low income job or unemployment, can endanger the socialization and education of kids. In addition, this can have a negative influence on the physical and mental health of all the family members. Social assistance is only granted if the income per family member is below 70% of the minimum subsistence level.
G. and her daughter A. are a family we have been supporting for a few years now. G has bad health, due to chronic bronchitis and iron deficiency anemia. She took part in the reintegration program of Seven Trees after being released from prison. We helped her regain custody for her daughter who lived in an orphanage. Currently she is working as a cleaning lady. We help the family with humanitarian aid. A is finishing up her last year in school and has big gaps in her education. In the last few months, she came over after school and we tutored her.
M. is the mother of 5 children. We got to know her after she had been left by her husband, and kicked out of her parents house by her brother. The two oldest daughters have finished school and are working and studying. M, the third eldest, received wrong treatment for a ruptured appendix, which almost cost her her life. She still has medical issues due to this. The twin boys are 13 years old and one of them, D., has epilepsy and suffers from moderate spastic diplopia. He can’t take part in regular classes. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to obtain a social worker and currently the family is in the tedious process of applying for a larger and appropriate apartment.
B. and her husband (with their eight children) is another family we support. The parents work on a chicken farm, but are not able to provide for their big family. Sadly, one of the daughters wasn’t able to start school last year because the family couldn’t afford the obligatory school uniform. Due to a costly medical treatment for one of their daughters, B. had to sell their house. She also has health issues as she has asthma. R. (3 years) was born with a heart defect, which needs to be operated on and requires a long rehabilitation.
“We received some wonderful items, which brought joy and relief to our family. Thanks to your support, we felt cared for and noticed, even when experiencing difficulties.”
“We want to express our deep gratitude for the humanitarian help in the form of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing.”
“The support we have received means a great deal to us and helps us cope with our difficulties. Thank you for your kindness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to help others. With gratitude from large families, retirees, and people without a permanent home.”