How Is a School in Talgar Participating in an International Project with Schools in Europe?
A school in Talgar, Almaty Region, is participating in the international Be Healthy, Be Happy! project featured on the European eTwinning platform.
The project brings together students and teachers from Kazakhstan, Poland, Serbia, Greece, and Romania. Participants work collaboratively on topics such as healthy lifestyles, nutrition, physical activity, and the cultural traditions of different countries. They also use English for international communication.
What is eTwinning?
eTwinning is a European online community created to support international cooperation between schools and educators.
Through the platform, teachers can find international partners, develop joint educational projects, organise online meetings and activities for students, exchange experience, and take part in professional development opportunities.
What is the school in Talgar doing?
As part of the Be Healthy, Be Happy! project, partner schools carry out joint activities focused on healthy lifestyles and learning about the cultures of different countries.
One of the activities was an international Christmas card exchange. A school from Talgar, Kazakhstan, is listed among the participants on the project’s official page.
The project was created in October 2025 and is designed for students aged 7 to 12.
Why are projects like this important?
Participation in international projects gives students an opportunity to use English in authentic communication, interact with peers from other countries, and develop digital, communication, and intercultural skills.
For teachers and schools, such projects also provide valuable practical experience in:
🌍 international collaboration;
📚 implementing joint educational projects;
👩🏫 teacher leadership and initiative;
👨🎓 active student engagement;
💡 applying modern educational practices.
In addition, this type of experience can strengthen both a teacher’s professional portfolio and a school’s portfolio, as it provides concrete examples of international collaboration, leadership, student engagement, and impact on the school community.
This can be particularly useful when applying for international programmes, grants, and professional competitions. For teachers, for example, such experience may be relevant when preparing an application for the Global Teacher Prize. For schools, it can support applications for international awards and competitions where applicants are expected to demonstrate concrete projects, innovation, sustainable outcomes, and contributions to the development of the school community.
It is important to note that participation in an international project does not in itself guarantee success in such competitions. However, it can serve as strong evidence of professional and project-based activity.
Can any school in Kazakhstan register with eTwinning?
There is an important limitation.
The eTwinning community is officially intended for teachers and staff of educational organisations from eTwinning participating countries. Kazakhstan is currently not included in the official list of countries with a National Support Organisation for eTwinning.
Therefore, schools in Kazakhstan cannot follow the standard registration process and participate in the platform on the same terms as schools from official eTwinning countries.
At the same time, the example of the school in Talgar shows that schools from Kazakhstan can still be involved in international cooperation with participants of eTwinning projects.
The open information on the platform does not specify exactly how the school in Talgar joined this particular project.
Would you like to better understand how eTwinning works?
From 1 to 3 October 2026, the eTwinning Annual Conference 2026: Future-ready schools: empowering teachers and learners will take place.
An online programme is available for international participants, featuring practical workshops and sessions on international collaboration, digital tools, artificial intelligence, and whole-school development.
Online participants can also apply to contribute a short presentation as part of the TeachMeet session.
If you would like to better understand how eTwinning projects work and what opportunities they can offer teachers and schools, participating in the conference can be a useful next step.
👉 Learn more about the eTwinning Annual Conference 2026
Where can you learn more?
If your school is interested in international projects and collaboration with colleagues abroad, this example can be a useful starting point for finding partners and developing your own international initiatives.
