Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, 3 June 2026 – In honour of International Children’s Day, The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation officially inaugurated the Shabyt Children’s and Youth Creativity Center in Zhezkazgan, marking a historic moment in delivering the city’s most significant facility for children in over 70 years. The USD 7.7 million facility was donated by the Foundation to the city and now offers children across the region access to modern learning, creative, and recreational opportunities.
Photos: The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
The 2,600-square-meter complex is located in the Western District of Zhezkazgan and has been designed as a comprehensive learning and development centre for children. The facility includes 14 classrooms along with a wide range of specialist spaces, including a STEM hub for robotics, mathematics, and natural sciences, and various creative studios for art, digital design, photography, music, dance, and martial arts. Additional amenities include a pottery workshop, a chess room, an early childhood development center, and a spacious assembly hall.
Almaz Sharman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, commented: “Supporting education and creating modern infrastructure for children’s development are among the Foundation’s key activities. These projects provide long-term investment in communities and support the future of the country. I am confident that the new Shabyt Center will create leading opportunities for supplementary education and the creative and professional development of children in the region.”
Designed to serve up to 250 children at a time, the center also offers staff facilities, a medical office and coworking spaces. All activities will be offered free of charge, and across multiple shifts, allowing the center to engage as many as 600 children each day.
The complex is set on a 1.6-hectare site featuring sports facilities, playgrounds and landscaped public spaces. Accessibility and inclusion were central to the design, with all spaces adapted to support children with diverse needs. A dedicated sensory room further strengthens the center’s ability to provide an inclusive environment for educational and developmental needs.
Dastan Ryspekov, Akim of the Ulytau Region, who was also present at the opening ceremony, recognised the broader significance of the project: “The new Center is not just a modern building, but a space where children can learn, develop their talents and engage in technology, creativity and sports. These projects create an environment where younger generations gain confidence in their future.”
Among a series of social infrastructure projects, the Center represents the most recent contribution delivered by the Foundation across Kazakhstan. This offering complements earlier projects such as the construction of schools on Yesik and Kosshy, a new airport in Kyzylorda, and a community center in Kosshy.
