On February 15, the first race of the new sports year, the Winter Run, took place in Almaty. The organizer of the large-scale event was traditionally the Courage to Be the First corporate foundation. The winter start brought together 2 500 professionals and running enthusiasts on one track.
Record geography and running without borders
This year, Winter Run has confirmed its growing international status. Representatives of 22 countries took part in the race, including a record 116 foreign athletes. The geography of the participants covered Central Asia, European countries (from Great Britain and Spain to Scandinavia), Russia, North America (USA and Canada), as well as the Asia-Pacific region.
Sport once again proved that there is no age limit for it: the age of participants ranged from 10 to 75 years old. The most experienced runner showed excellent form, and the youngest participant celebrated her first, 10th anniversary right during the race.
"This year is special for us – the Almaty Marathon celebrates 15 years since its first start. All our races are organized in such a way as to consistently prepare participants for the main event of the season. We see that the foundation's starts already have a stable international status – runners from different countries come to us, and this, in turn, contributes to the development of the urban economy and small businesses" - Galimzhan Yessenov.
Sports and charity
Traditionally, the Courage to Be the First corporate foundation gives its events an important social meaning. Part of the funds raised from the entry fees of the Winter Run participants will be used for charitable purposes.
Race calendar:
• On April 19, the Almaty Half Marathon will be held, which plans to gather about 10 000 participants at the start.
• On September 27, a grandiose, jubilee Almaty Marathon will be held, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the project.
The Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation competition has ended in Almaty, as a result of which 10 young Kazakhstanis received grants for internships in the world's leading laboratories. In 2026, they will travel abroad to learn from the best researchers. A total of 196 applications were received for the competition this year. The selection took place in several stages. The experts assessed scientific potential, leadership skills, emotional intelligence.
Winners and their research interests:
• Amina Shaikim (26 years old, SDU): The use of AI in education
• Adel Stoyanova (NU): Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of HIV and HPV coinfection to combat cancer.
• Musa Aliyev (19 years old, NU): Development of drives for humanoid robots and exoskeletons.
• Daniil Gerasimov (Kozybayev University): Applied Bioinformatics, genetic engineering and molecular Breeding.
• Timur Yerlanov (21 years old, KazNU): Development of quality indicators for amorphous drugs in Japanese laboratories.
• Murat Kozhanov (KSTU): The use of AI and the creation of digital counterparts to optimize industry.
• Ramazan Kazhdanbekov (22 years old, KazNU): Synthesis of nanomaterials for monitoring and purification of water and air.
• Dimash Davletov (KazNMU): Practical development of neural interfaces (Brain-Computer Interface) and decoding of brain signals.
• Daut Nurlanov (20 years old, NU): Development of AI systems for people with brain disorders.
• Medet Dzhumadildaev (21 years old): Research in the field of fundamental mathematics.
The foundation's grant fully covers the costs of a visa, flight, accommodation and meals. The program has been implemented since 2013, and during this time more than 130 young scientists have completed internships in the USA, Japan, Great Britain and other countries. The new stage of application acceptance traditionally starts in the fall.
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ASTANA – For 12 years, Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation, established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Galimzhan Yessenov, has been working to boost the nation’s intellectual development. From its inception, 2,700 direct and more than 38,000 indirect beneficiaries have participated in the foundation’s programs, which foster personal and professional upskilling for students.
Shakhmardan Yessenov is Kazakhstan’s renowned geologist, scientist and statesman. He was a pioneer in the development of some of the world’s largest mineral deposits in the Zhezkazgan and Mangistau Regions. This year, 226 young Kazakh individuals were awarded grants and scholarships by the foundation.
Research opportunities
The cornerstone of the foundation’s initiatives is the research internships program at laboratories around the world. Each year, 10 undergraduate students or young scientists receive the opportunity to complete an internship at a leading research laboratory of their choice worldwide. The organization prioritizes labs with a strong reputation, research aligned with the winner’s field of study and involvement of world-renowned professors. Grants cover all essential expenses, including visas, round-trip airfare and living expenses for the duration of the internship.
“After completing such internships, most of our students gain experience, scientific publications, and an enhanced reputation. That’s why they are widely accepted into master’s and doctoral programs, often with full funding,” said Irina Grishchenko, the chief operating officer of the Yessenov foundation.
Beneficiaries specialize in diverse fields, including biosciences, chemistry, physics, maths, IT, healthcare, robotics and other majors. Over the past 12 years, more than 1,700 students have applied for the program, with over 130 of them completing internships in Canada, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States and other countries. One such participant is 24-year-old Nail Beisekenov, a graduate of Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, who holds a master’s degree from Niigata University in Japan. He completed an internship at Austin Peay University in the United States this summer.
The history of the program
The Shakhmardan Yessenov Scholarship, named after the renowned geologist, scientist and statesman who discovered numerous mineral deposits, remains one of the foundation’s most popular initiatives among students. The most recent competition received over 500 applications nationwide. Overall, 196 young people have received scholarships since the foundation’s establishment.
“Through a participant‑friendly selection process, and with the support of our psychologist‑coach, we choose young people who not only demonstrate strong academic performance but also have a clear commitment to continuing their personal and professional development,” said program manager Aigerym Sultan.
Skill development initiatives
A total of 161 students have recently enrolled in the English Language Program for Regional Universities at Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University. Since 2013, this two-year program has also been implemented at four universities in Aktau, Kyzylorda, Karagandy and Petropavl. To date, 1,506 students and teachers have improved their English proficiency through the initiative, guided by certified teachers such as Antony Durrant and Courtney Bailey. The Yessenov Data Lab (YDL) Summer School for Data Analysts provides intensive training in data science. This year, 15 students completed the program in Almaty, taught by experts including doctor of Computer Science Timur Bakibayev, research engineer Nikita Saxena from Google DeepMind, doctor of maths Kuanysh Abeshev and senior engineer Vladislav Yushchenko from Meta’s London office. Since its launch, 111 individuals have attended the school. Additionally, 10 students received grants for further education in soft or hard skills through the Yessenov Launch Pad competition held this autumn.
Infrastructural support
The foundation has also invested in educational infrastructure, launching the Shakhmardan Yessenov Auditorium at Almaty-based Satbayev University, the alma mater of geologist and scientist Shakhmardan Yessenov. Plans have been announced to unveil a monument dedicated to the prominent scholar in Aktau in 2027, surrounded by a newly created public space, to mark his 100th anniversary.
The foundation has supported Kazakhstan’s school team participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) for several years. This year’s team won seven medals, including gold from Ji’ning, China.
“Summing up the outcomes of 2025, we are pleased to share that we were able to support another 226 talented and ambitious students in developing, exploring and advancing professionally. Since we have stayed in close contact with our winners for many years and followed their achievements, I can confidently say that for many of them, we have become the foundation that truly opened doors to big science and to their chosen professions,” said executive director of the foundation Aiganym Malisheva.
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The Scientific and Educational Foundation named after Academician Shakhmardan Yessenov (Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation) has officially announced the results of the Yessenov Launch Pad competition. This program is aimed at supporting talented Kazakhstanis seeking to improve their skills and acquire relevant competencies.
In the qualifying round, 94 applications were submitted for consideration by the commission. As a result of the competitive selection, 10 winners were identified who demonstrated the highest potential and a clear vision of their career path.
Each finalist will receive a grant of up to 600 000 tenge. These funds have a specific purpose: during the year, the winners must use them to complete additional training. The program covers the development of both highly professional skills (hard skills) and supra-professional competencies (soft skills).
Our Yessenov Launch Pad program contributes to the creation of a sustainable ecosystem of support for young scientists and specialists.
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The fourth Turkistan Marathon, organized by the “Courage to be the First” foundation, took place on October 26, bringing together 3,000 participants. The highlight of this year’s event was a record number of international runners: 365 athletes from 20 countries came to the spiritual capital of the Turkic world — almost twice as many as last year. Participants could choose among several distances: 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km (running and Nordic walking), and a 3 km race for children aged 10–14. The marathon’s results are officially recognized internationally thanks to certifications from World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
Earlier this year, the Turkistan Marathon became part of the first Turkic long-distance running series — the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs (TAN). Thirty-five marathoners from the alliance took part in the race, continuing their athletic journey across the Turkic world.
“The TAN series symbolizes the unity of Turkic nations, and it is especially meaningful for us that the Turkistan Marathon — held in the spiritual capital of the Turkic world — has become part of this movement. This marathon unites people, inspires them to discover new cities, learn about different cultures, and strengthens the region’s position as a hub for sports and a magnet for runners,” — Galimzhan Yessenov.
Read more here.
- A new milestone: The 2025 Almaty Marathon ended with a lot of records
- Heritage and innovation: Academician Shakhmardan Yesenov Auditorium opened at Satbayev University
- TAN Running Alliance launch: marathons from four countries joined in one round
- The Sixth Yessenov Data Lab Summer School for Data Analysts Wraps Up at AlmaU