 On July 1, Atyrau Oblast officials, journalists, and school representatives gathered to recognize the Tech Age Teens project, which is funded by Tengizchevroil and implemented by IREX. The event allowed student participants to present their summer projects and media to cover the stories.
Local TV channel Kazakhstan-Atyrau aired coverage in its news program twice and two local well-known publications Ak Zhaiyk and Atyrau ran stories on the event. The media coverage was positive and recognized the contributions that have helped 13 to 15-year-olds understand community needs and develop leadership, teamwork, technology skills.
Tech Age Teens emphasizes the need to increase the role of internet in the education process. Information and communication technology helps teachers prepare for lessons and students with their homework and extracurricular activities. Since April, 64 teachers in Atyrau and the environs trained over 270 kids in 29 schools, creating after-school clubs. By the end of the second month of training kids had proposed 46 ideas as a social projects. Some ideas are new, some borrowed, and some could potentially address acute social needs. The exercise was the teens’ first to plan and participate in a social project. Most students did not even know what a social project was when they started.
Students from five schools presented PowerPoint slides to share about their projects. One of these students was a participant from School No. 20 Artur Loginov told how his team started their project. First, they analyzed social questions given to their peers in the micro-regions of Zhilgorodok, Balykshy, Masloprom, Avangard and Central. As a result, they concluded that young people lack constructive options for their free time, especially in summer. Using the talents among them, they organized five interventions to address spare time, reaching 400 kids. They also plan to organize internet training for kids from foster families in the fall.
 Following encouraging words from Deputy Akim of Atyrau Oblast Serik Amangaliev, a representative of the Oblast Department of Education (OblOO) spoke. Shakirzhan Myrzagaliev thanked Tengizchevroil and said, "By teaching innovative technologies, IREX not only gives kids an opportunity to become equal with their peers, but also supports development of their abilities and gives a chance to go with the times.”
Public Relations Coordinator of Tengizchevroil, Gulnara Aitzhanova congratulated everyone with the end of the school year and explained the principle of a new approach to the management company's social projects, where priorities are given to education, medicine, and environmental awareness.
 With 50 people in attendance and the following media coverage, the event allowed decision makers and the public through television news and newspapers, to appreciate Tech Age Teens. With successful implementation, some needy people in the community and the students themselves doing the good deeds will appreciate it even more.
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