The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Visits the "Global – Special Clothing" Factory

On September 1, 2024, in Aktobe, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the "Global – Special Clothing" factory, a major enterprise in Western Kazakhstan specializing in the development and production of protective clothing for workers in industries with high safety requirements such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, mining, energy, construction, and agriculture.

Accompanying the Head of the Metropolis were Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Almaty; Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, head of the Metropolitan's protocol service; and Protodeacon Vladimir Syrovatsky.

The Metropolitan was welcomed by the factory's director, Nadezhda Alexandrovna Shabaeva, and Sergei Vladimirovich Vishnyak, a deputy of the Aktobe Regional Maslikhat.

Nadezhda Alexandrovna led a tour of the factory's production facilities, explaining the operations of the enterprise.

She informed His Eminence that the factory is involved in various charitable projects aimed at creating new jobs and supporting socially vulnerable groups. "At the Global – Special Clothing factory, there is an educational and production complex called 'Nadezhda,' where people with disabilities are trained in specialized programs. This year, the school graduated 250 students, most of whom are now employed in the garment industry. In collaboration with local universities, the Aktobe College of Service, and a college for children with hearing impairments, the company is implementing and developing dual education programs with mentoring elements, where 80% of the training is practical, conducted at the production site, and 20% is theoretical, taught in the educational institution. The program includes production practice and subsequent employment of young specialists at the company," she highlighted.

In response, Metropolitan Alexander provided the business leader with information about the life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the charitable activities carried out within the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. He specifically mentioned the work of the main church social and charitable center in the Republic, the "House of Mercy," which includes the "Solnyshko" children's shelter and a home for the elderly.

During the tour, the Head of the Metropolitan District conversed with the factory employees and invoked God's blessing on the leadership and workers.

In recognition of their contributions to the Aktobe and Kyzylorda Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Nadezhda Alexandrovna Shabaeva the Order of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and Sophia, and Sergei Vladimirovich Vishnyak the Order of the Holy Confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Eminence and the factory director exchanged commemorative gifts and wished each other success in their good deeds and initiatives.