On December 4, the Kazakhstan Growth Forum (KGF) held the Social Impact Awards ceremony, recognizing the best social projects of 2025. Winners were selected from 104 applications received from 18 regions of the country.
The expert jury evaluated the projects based on three main criteria: accessibility, scalability, and impact. The winners received the “AIQYN” Award.
“The AIQYN Award recognizes ordinary people whose activities are based on clear goals, transparent intentions, and sustainable values. Among the many social initiatives, we highlight those who demonstrate consistency and a commitment to чmoving towards their mission despite the emerging difficulties,” said Marzhan Melanich, Executive Director of KGF, at the ceremony.
Winners by Category
Category: Inclusivity
1st Place: Public Association “Meiirim” for the project “DeFactoFM”. This is an inclusive media portal that creates a media space for engaging people with disabilities and vulnerable groups in public life, developing their media skills, and forming a tolerant society.
2nd Place: Association of Legal Entities “Association for the Development of Social Technologies” for the project “TOM: Kazakhstan”. This make-a-thon is aimed at creating a community of active youth and developing accessible technological solutions that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
3rd Place: Public Association “Korgan-M” for the project “Múmkіndіkter Kіtaphanasy”, an initiative for social and psychological support for families raising children with disabilities.
Category: Medicine
1st Place: Public Fund “Diabetic Parent Committee” for the project “Summer of Your Awakening”. This is a support program for children and adults with Type 1 diabetes, aimed at patient rights advocacy, raising awareness, and conducting educational and social events.
2nd Place: International Foundation “Global Success of People” for the project “Children’s Palliative Care Karaganda”. This involves a pre-project study on forming a system of palliative care for children and developing the concept of a Model Center for Children’s Palliative Care and Clinical Competencies in Karaganda.
3rd Place: Disabled Persons Society “Asyl-Ai” for the project “Donormyn”, which focuses on the development of digital solutions for promoting, supporting, and developing the donor movement, aimed at increasing public awareness and engagement in voluntary donation.
Category: Ecology
1st Place: Public Fund “Greenup.kz” for the project “Recycle Birge”. This is a series of eco-campaigns aimed at developing a recycling culture, engaging citizens in sustainable practices, and forming an urban eco-community.
2nd Place: Individual Entrepreneur Evzhenkova Lyudmila Valerievna for the project “Quartz”, an initiative for the collection and processing of glass and ceramics to reduce waste and promote the principles of the circular economy.
3rd Place: Public Association “Istoki Dobra” for the project “EcoCashback”. This is a system for stimulating separate waste collection in rural areas through rewards for handing in recyclable materials, contributing to environmental education and improving the sanitary condition of villages.
Category: Culture
1st Place: Individual Entrepreneur Shygharma for the project “Aina”. This is a literary online magazine publishing works by women from Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries in Russian, Kazakh, and English.
2nd Place: Public Association “Altyn Adam Creative Center” for its social initiative projects, which unite eco- and ethno-festivals, fairs, exhibitions, and master classes within the frameworks of the “Revival of the Great Silk Road” and “Creative Ethnocenter Mamaniya Art School” programs.
3rd Place: Private Fund “Charitable Network Publication – Photo Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan” for the project “Photo Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan”. This is an open-access online photo bank with high-definition images, videos, and panoramas reflecting the cultural, natural, and historical heritage of Kazakhstan.
Category: Education
1st Place: Public Fund “Kazakhstan Fund for Cultural, Social and Educational Development” for the project “Women’s Economic Empowerment Program”. This initiative is aimed at unleashing women’s potential through education, practical experience, and mentorship, contributing to their professional and financial development.
2nd Place: Public Fund “Zamandas21” for the project “Youth Coworking Zamandas / Family Yard Club”. This movement supports socially vulnerable populations through the provision of social-psychological, educational, and correctional assistance.
3rd Place: Public Fund “Osobiy Prazdniki” for the project “School of Good Will”, an initiative aimed at transforming society through the development of a culture of volunteering and social service.
Awards for Personal Contribution
KGF also recognized outstanding public figures who make a significant contribution to society with the “For Personal Contribution” awards for 2025:
- Mentorship: Rafael Urazbakhtin, Head Coach of FC Kairat.
- Civil Society: Murat Daniyar, news columnist and activist.
- Enlightenment: Zahira Begaliyeva, Director of the Public Fund “ITeachMe”.
- Culture: Galymzhan Moldanazar, singer and musician.
- Healthcare: Mynzhylky Berdikhodzhaev, neurosurgeon.
In addition, Nurlan Smagulov, founder of “Astana Group,” was recognized as the Patron of the Year. The title of “Best Corporate Social Responsibility” went to the BI Group company, and “Breakthrough of the Year” was awarded to inVision U university.
Support and Results
This event was made possible thanks to the support of philanthropists, who this year included Yerlik Balfanbayev, Yerkin Tatishev, Serik Tolukpayev, Kairat Mazhibayev, Marat Zhuman, Eldar Abdrazakov, Berik Kaniyev, and Eldar Sarsenov.
The partners of the Social Impact Awards were Nurbank, Alina Group, Aitas, RG Brands, KPMG, Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation, Atasu Group, Kusto Group, Yerzhan Tatishev Foundation, Air Astana, AlemAgro, Visor Kazakhstan, and Centras Group.
Rare items for the auction were provided by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, the D.A. Kunayev and Denis Ten Foundations, the Lermontov Theater, the family of Gerold Belger, and the artist Assel Kenjetyeva.
A truly touching moment occurred during the auction after the musician Galymzhan Moldanazar purchased Denis Ten’s skates. “I knew Denis, we talked. He was a very kind, great guy. Now I am happy to have these skates in his memory,” said Galymzhan.
Thanks to the support of philanthropists and partners, as well as the charity auction, the Social Impact Awards 2025 raised 87 million tenge. The majority of this amount went to provide grants to the best social projects, while the funds from the auction will support the Public Association Lider.kz — a volunteer movement dedicated to searching for missing citizens and supporting their families across Kazakhstan.
From 2021 to 2025, KGF received and reviewed over 450 applications. Among these, 52 laureate projects from 18 regions of the country were selected, and the total prize fund exceeded 150 million tenge. These figures underscore the growth of the social movement throughout the country and the vital importance of supporting initiatives by philanthropists and partners.
About the Social Impact Awards and KGF:
The Social Impact Awards is a KGF initiative aimed at recognizing Kazakhstan’s leading public figures. The key values KGF promotes through the award are: clarity of ideas, honesty of actions, and sincerity of intentions. The award symbolizes the light that the laureates bring to society through their actions, making good visible, understandable, and inspiring.
KGF is a leading expert platform in Central Asia that unites leaders to discuss key trends in economics, business, and governance. The organization’s mission is to promote sustainable development and innovation in the region through dialogue and the exchange of best practices.