Technologies that give freedom: Satbayev University hosted "TOM: Almaty" Makaton to help children with special needs

The final of "TOM: Almaty" social project was held at Satbayev University, which brought together students, engineers and designers for one goal - to create innovative devices that can make life easier for children with special needs. For the first time, Makaton was supported by the prosthetic and orthopedic center "Medicare International" and "TransCom" company.

Makeathon "TOM: Almaty" is part of the international Tikkun Olam Makers movement, which means "changing the world" in Hebrew. In Kazakhstan, the given project is being implemented by Association for Development of Social Technologies with the support of Eurasian Resources Group and the country's largest universities. Satbayev University, a leading technical university in Kazakhstan, has once again become the central venue, providing the participants with access to its laboratories, workshops and technical resources. This year, special attention was paid to children with musculoskeletal disorders.

Every invention created on Makaton represents a targeted and effective solution to a real problem. A month before Makaton, the student teams got to know the children who needed help. Then a 72-hour marathon of invention began, in which participants created real prototypes of devices. Professional jury selected the best projects: an adaptive chair created by Non-Artificial Intelligence team, a walker with gamification elements from Unimates team, and an upgraded verticalizer from Versta team.

Makeathon "TOM: Almaty" not only helps children, but also forms a community of young engineers for whom technology is a way to change their lives for the better. Since 2017, the project has become an integral part of Satbayev University's technological and humanitarian mission, where science serves people and education becomes a tool for good change.