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July 31, 2013
 A group of aspiring youth in Kazakhstan is celebrating a milestone that, not long ago, was perhaps unthinkable — college graduation. A tuition assistance program through the BOTA Foundation there sent its first large group of graduates into the workforce. More than 125 students received diplomas at a recent ceremony. |
February 25, 2013
 With the support of a tuition assistance program, Aiman Idegeeva now gives back to the community that never gave up on her — an orphanage in Kazakhstan. In exchange for a grant that allows her to attend college, she helps inspire orphaned children to work hard, seek education and envision a better future. |
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November 16, 2012
 As a 12 year old boy, Vova grew up with a mother who suffered from severe anxiety and a father in prison. As the eldest child in his family, he lashed out in anger at his younger siblings and was mean and abusive towards his teachers at school. It was clear to those around him that Vova was on a destructive path. Despite this rough start, Vova is now mentor for other youth thanks to the social services he received through the Zhenskii Luch (Women’s Ray) Center. The Center, with support from the BOTA Social Service Program, provides an after school program for children aged 7-18 with behavioral issues, and/or absent parents. |
August 20, 2012
 Unemployment in the south of Kazakhstan is among the highest in the country, especially among the nation's youth. With the help of the BOTA Foundation's Social Service Program (SSP) grant, the director of the Microcredit Public Foundation Karazhat Nesie saw this as a serious problem facing his community, and decided to do something about it. |
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April 6, 2012
 On a recent visit to a village 120 kilometers east of Almaty, I witnessed first-hand how the BOTA Foundation is helping under-resourced children and youth of Kazakhstan. |
January 31, 2012
 There are limited services to protect and support the hearing impaired community in Kazakhstan. Once individuals complete schooling, few government resources exist to help them function independently alongside other citizens. |
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January 19, 2012
 Dinara Shakmetova grew up in a small remote village in Kazakhstan with her single mother and four siblings. With limited economic resources, Dinara would often knit clothing items to sell as a way of making extra money for the family in addition to her studies and household chores. |
December 16, 2011
 Eight-year old Daulet suffers from a rare genetic illness that prevents him from walking without crutches or other assistance. Unable to attend classes with his peers and self-conscious about his disabilities, the disheartened boy spent much of his time indoors in state sponsored housing for impoverished families, afraid to play with his peers for fear of hurting himself. However, thanks to Bereke, a local NGO supported by the IREX-assisted BOTA Foundation, Daulet now takes art lessons and field trips along side other young children. |
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November 14, 2011
 Our work today reaches and helps more people than ever before in our history. These stories highlight just a handful of the 300,000 people IREX has helped this year. |
October 21, 2011
 Over the last two years, BOTA’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awarded 649 grants to young people from low-income families worth almost $2 million. This support is vital as tuition costs continue to rise. |
