IQanat: Empowering Rural Youth in Kazakhstan

In June 2025, IQanat CEO Aliya Salikova considered scaling opportunities for the foundation, which provided educational opportunities for children from rural regions of Kazakhstan. Established by Kazakhstani businessman and philanthropist Aidyn Rakhimbayev, IQanat sought to address the stark disparity between academic resources in urban and rural parts of the country. The foundation developed mentorship programs and built a flagship school which admitted 100 new rural students a year on a full scholarship basis. To select its students, IQanat conducted an “Olympiad,” a set of tests that assessed 50,000 students annually on academic abilities, emotional intelligence, and specific skillsets. IQanat also offered students who did not receive scholarships access to short, intensive on-campus events or online educational programs.

By 2025, the IQanat school and programs had produced more than 2,000 alumni who had been admitted to universities in 16 countries. The initiative’s funding model had also evolved, shifting from an exclusive reliance on Rakhimbayev’s donations to a donor base of 218 trustees—Kazakhstani business leaders who oversaw IQanat at the regional or district level. Salikova planned to oversee the opening of four new schools across the country over the next 5–10 years, along with expanding access to online programs. IQanat also began partnering with universities to track the long-term outcomes of its graduates, aiming to continually improve programs that supported the career success and well-being of its students. How would the foundation sustain momentum with donors and make the most meaningful difference for generations of rural students in Kazakhstan?