Vyacheslav Kim and Mikhail Lomtadze opened a support center in Almaty for children with autism

Ten years ago, autism was scarcely recognized as a condition in Kazakhstan, with no more than 30 registered cases, although statistics suggested otherwise. By April 2024, over 12,000 children with autism were registered in Kazakhstan, while in 2013, a diagnosis was made in only one out of 68 cases.

It is believed that autism cannot be cured. However, this is not the case. Participants of the 'Autism, We Will Overcome!' project—children and their parents—prove every day that this condition can be treated. It requires loving the child, engaging with them, exploring options, and believing in victory.

In 2013, the public fund «Voluntary Society of Mercy» took under its wing the Association of Parents of Autistic Children. It was there that the free 'Autism, We Will Overcome!' project was born, which attracted families from 22 cities across Kazakhstan.

Throughout the project, specialists conducted over 15,000 workshops and more than 2,000 consultations for families dealing with early childhood autism. The project also focused on training personnel to work with autistic children: 230 specialists underwent internships through the project.

In 2016, renowned Kazakh philanthropists Vyacheslav Kim and Mikhail Lomtadze gifted the «Autism, We Will Overcome!» project with a venue of their own. The building's area was 1,400 square meters. Thanks to financial support, the premises underwent a major renovation.

«Previously, a significant portion of expenses was spent on renting space for the project, and there was a constant fear that we would not be able to find funds for this purpose. But now there is confidence, and most importantly—a roof over our heads, where our children with their parents can work with professional psychologists and tutors of the project,» noted the authors of the Autism, We Will Overcome!' project.

The housewarming took place in April 2017, on the eve of World Autism Awareness Day. The philanthropists themselves participated in the event. Vyacheslav Kim and Mikhail Lomtadze, together with the project author Vladimir Matviyevsky, cut the red ribbon, officially opening the Center for Assisting Children with Autism.