WINNERS OF THE YESSENOV FOUNDATION MET WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN

What kind of event was this?
Grants.kz is a web portal which broadcasts information about education through social media, educational and academic opportunities’ media. Since we are moving in the same direction towards the common goal, and the Foundation has the “Find Your Way” Program for schoolchildren, Grants.kz proposed the idea of involving the Foundation in their exhibition, and we supported it. High school students, who will soon have to choose their life and career path, along with their parents, and first-year university students who could get information about, for instance, study abroad opportunities, in order to use them in building a career, attended the exhibition.

How was the Foundation involved in the exhibition?
We assisted Grants.kz in organizing the event because we share a common goal. Each institution participating in the exhibition had its own stand, as it should be in such an event. The Foundation, of course, had one as well. Furthermore, as part of our “Find Your Way” Program, 7 winners of various Foundation’s Programs gave presentations to the students in a specially designated hall, shared their experiences and answered questions.

Which of your winners participated, and what did they tell the schoolchildren?
At the event, the winners of various Foundation’s Programs – the Yessenov Scholarship, Research Internships, Yessenov Launch Pad, and others – shared their life hacks with the guests. For example, Aida Kasengaliyeva, front-end developer, spoke about the difference between academic education and courses. Askarbek Orakov and Nazgul Sakenova, a young Kazakh scientist couple from Harvard, told about how to balance career and relationship. Arailym Maikenova, gastroenterologist-hepatologist, a PhD candidate, emphasized in her presentation that one can study ANYWHERE, but HOW to study is more important. Nariman Kairbekov, a researcher at the National Scientific Laboratory who specializes in chemistry and nanomaterials, told how the Foundation’s Research Internships Program improved his personal development. Daniil Filimonov, a researcher at the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence, clearly explained what an undergraduate education is, and shared his current experience of studying for a bachelor’s degree at Nazarbayev University. Yulia Sabirova, an applied mathematician, senior lecturer at al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and PhD candidate, highlighted the career development opportunities for mathematicians.

Have you already summed up the results?
First, the information we shared with the guests at the Grants.kz educational exhibition definitely fell like a seed on fertile soil. Their faces and shining eyes proved that they were inspired and managed to awaken their dormant motivation. And I wouldn’t be surprised if some of today’s exhibition visitors participate in the Yessenov Foundation Programs’ competitions in the nearest future.

Second, for us, it was an opportunity to not only reintroduce ourselves to our future target audience, but also to meet and maintain contacts with our Programs’ winners. For example, Aida Kasengaliyeva, who spoke at the event, wrote to us, quote, “You know, today, together with the schoolchildren, I was inspired by the speakers’ presentations and by the atmosphere itself. This environment is amazing!”, unquote. Such feedback is priceless.

Commenting on the event, Galimzhan Yessenov, the founder of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation, businessman and philanthropist, said. “We are grateful to all the guys, the winners of the Foundation’s programs. And not only to those who participated this time, but to everyone for their willingness to share their experience with schoolchildren and students in Kazakhstan. They always support our initiatives in this field. It is important not only to experience something in your life, but also to share it, to pass it on to others, and, as they say, to help both personal and social development. It is also significant that the winners of the Yessenov Foundation’s programs enjoy this kind of social responsibility. We understand why we are doing all of this. And I’m not just talking about the event or a single program, I’m talking about the entire the Yessenov Foundation’s activities in Kazakhstan”.