ALMATY, Kazakhstan, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Jas Leader Akademiiasy program, launched by the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation in 2021, has completed its pilot phase and its ongoing management will now be handed over to leading certified local organisations to drive further expansion. The initiative has served to cultivate the necessary skills for leadership, and aims to empower the youth of Kazakhstan.
Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
What is the Jas Leader Program?
The reach of the program has been wide-ranging. Around 41,500 schoolchildren have taken part. The roll-out has reached 124 schools, spanning across 17 different regions of the country. The aspirational sessions pass on the values of confidence, teamwork, communication, and self-expression through hands-on, interactive learning. More than 200 teachers have been specially trained to deliver the curriculum and facilitate sessions, to students from Grade 5 all the way up to Grade 11.
Conducted as extracurricular workshops, the program features discussions on leadership, biographies of inspiring figures, games, group projects, and practical exercises designed to foster personal growth and mutual respect. One participant, Akzhan Bakytbekova, a Grade 11 student from I.V. Panfilov School-Lyceum No. 5, shared:”Jas Leader became more than just a class. I learned how to speak openly, collaborate in a team, and truly listen to others. In one activity, we had to stand together on an ever-shrinking sheet of paper, we had to support each other not to fall. It may seem simple, but it taught us about trust and unity. That’s what the whole program is about.”
Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
‘We are proud’ – Bulat Utemuratov Foundation CEO
Each academic year culminated in the Jas Leader forum in Almaty, which brought together the most engaged participants from across the country. The most recent event, in July 2025 at Tau Samal summer camp, brought together over 200 teenagers for a three-day experience that included training sessions, excursions, and sports activities. Notable Kazakhstani personalities including documentary filmmaker Aliya Ashim, performer Murat Muturganov, dancer Randy, and UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov joined the forum to share their stories.
“From 2021 to 2025, Jas Leader empowered tens of thousands of students to gain practical skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork,” said Ainur Karbozova, CEO of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation. “We are proud to hand over the program to trusted local institutions so that even more children across the country can benefit from this transformative experience.”
Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
