Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The second phase of the "IT4Everyone" project, aimed at addressing information accessibility issues for people with hearing impairments in Central Asia, started today.

This project is being implemented by the IT Academy in partnership with the Society of the Deaf of Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Society of the Blind and Deaf, the Almaty Branch of the Kazakhstan Society of the Deaf, and supported by the USAID Entrepreneurship and Business Environment Development Project.

The launch event was attended by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) – with Edward Michalski, Acting Mission Director of USAID in the Republic of Uzbekistan, participating. Other guests included Oybek Isakov, Chairman of the Association of People with Disabilities of Uzbekistan, and Guzal Shodieva, President of the Society of the Deaf of Uzbekistan.

The ceremony featured the awarding of 25 top graduates from special online IT courses for the hearing impaired from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan under the "IT4Everyone" project. It also marked the official launch of the project’s second component – tours to IT companies and a summer camp, which will take place from June 24 to 28 in Tashkent and Tashkent Region.

Edward Michalski, Acting Mission Director of USAID in the Republic of Uzbekistan, welcomed the guests with a speech, stating: "This initiative is not just about education and training; it is a pathway to self-sufficiency and meaningful integration into the modern business environment. By providing the hearing impaired with essential IT skills, USAID not only enhances their competitiveness in the labor market but also fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity."

The "IT4Everyone" project offers adapted online courses using sign language to improve the employability of people with hearing impairments in Central Asia. The project’s goal is to promote digital inclusion and economic growth in the region.

From 18 March to 29 April 2024, 115 participants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan completed training in social media marketing (SMM). The top 25 graduates will participate in the second phase, which includes tours to IT companies and potential paid internships.

The project, now available through the it4everyone.uz platform, offers video lessons adapted in sign language and certification upon passing a final test and completing coursework.