How the fairytale began…..

Once upon a time in a land far, far away a miracle was born.  After many years of unsuccessful pregnancies, Raushan Kabykenova was given the gift of two daughters.  With a grateful heart she yearned to give something back to all children and to create a beautiful haven for her own girls.  The vision was birthed to create a magical school where children painted what was bubbling in their hearts, danced curious dances, played fairy-tale games, and learned what is was to be a true friend.

Raushan traveled the world collecting the most valuable information and methods from all cultures and traditions.  She also set out to find the most educated, devoted, and loving teachers.  These individuals where carefully chosen, not just based on their credentials, but equally for the intention they held in their hearts.  A blend of brilliant minds, experience, and connectedness.  It was this select group of teachers that are the foundation in which everything was built.

In 2005 Raushan Kabykenova together with Natalya Schepina and Asel Koushekbaeva founded the children’s club based on Montessori Techniques in each of three languages – Kazakh, Russian, and English.

Why is the club ERTEGI psychological?

Every parent wants their child to be happy.  That is why Raushan decided that each staff member was required to have an educational background in psychology.  The goal of Ertegi’s staff psychologists is to teach children to see the world through a lens of opportunity, to listen to their own intuition, and to love themselves for who they are.  Children are encouraged to recognize, develop, and utilize their unique gift to give to the world.

Why do we use the Montessori Method?

The Montessori Method gives children the opportunity to choose independently the path that will spark their desire for exploration and learning.  Whether through art, dance, science or writing, they are given a pallet of options to express themselves, which opens them to learn through creativity.  Such an array of choices promotes active interest, emotional connection, and readiness to absorb new things.  The educator only aids in the process, supporting and developing the child’s own motivation.

Blending physiology together with the Montessori Method was an innovative leap into the educational world.

Why do we choose polylinquism?

Bilinguism is a natural speaking environment in Kazakhstan.  We can switch between the Russian and Kazakh languages with little effort.  Learning to speak languages of different language families (Slavic and Turkic) is habitual and comfortable for our children.  Introduction to English as a tool of communication of the basis of bilinguism does not cause significant difficulties due to already acquired skills.

Learning different languages activates various parts of the brain.  By teaching three languages to small children we stimulate their analytical skills as well as give them a range of tools to explore the world.

Giving Back

Raushan Kabykenova, with the help of her devoted teachers and parents, quickly realized that this unique style of education was allowing for miraculous leaps in knowledge as well as fostering a place of deep love and warmth for all children.

With so many foster children in Almanty, Raushan wanted to share this gift with the House of Hope foster home.  Teachers of Ertegi trained five educators from the foster home in the Montessori Method as well as donated all materials needed for a Montessori classroom.  To this day, parents of the club donate books and toys to continually support the foster home.