The founders of the Shokan Ualikhanov Private School (Shoqan school) — entrepreneur Kenes Rakishev and ecologist Assel Tasmagambetova — purchased and donated a land plot in the city center worth 600 million tenge to the municipal property of Almaty. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Additionally, the benefactors invested more than 300 million tenge and organized a square on the plot, which is open to city residents. On the 0.25-hectare plot, trees, flowers, and shrubs were planted, benches were installed, lighting was provided, and uninterrupted watering was organized.
Currently, the maintenance of the square, including the upkeep of its infrastructure, is fully financed by Kenes Rakishev and Assel Tasmagambetova from their own funds.
The construction of the square is part of a systematic charity program that Kenes Rakishev and Assel Tasmagambetova have been running for about 25 years.
In 2002, the couple founded the private charity fund "Sabi," one of the first charitable organizations in Kazakhstan. During its operation, "Sabi" built schools, orphanages, children's emergency surgery centers, inclusive sports facilities in the regions of Kazakhstan, opened free robotics centers, provided targeted assistance to thousands of people, and awarded over 80 Kazakhstani entrepreneurs with free grants for business development.
Kenes Rakishev and Assel Tasmagambetova have authored more than 10 national assistance programs and additionally allocated over 180 million tenge from their own funds for charitable projects.
In September 2026, the Center for Sustainable Development will be opened on the basis of Shoqan school, which will become a new stage in the development of the systematic charity program and environmental education for children.
"Since the founding of the 'Sabi' fund, our priority areas have remained education, medicine, and ecology. In all our initiatives, we try to look deeper — to research and implement projects that will bring systematic qualitative changes to the life of our city and our country. For 4 years, on the basis of Shoqan school, we have been holding the international competition for young scientists Shoqan Ecology for students from grades 3 to 11. We were inspired when we saw how strong the scientific potential of Kazakhstani schoolchildren is. When we conceived the Center for Sustainable Development, we decided that it would become a kind of forge for Kazakhstani scientists, ecologists, and engineers, an experimental platform where children can realize the boldest ideas for the benefit of Kazakhstan," said Assel Tasmagambetova, ecologist, founder of Shoqan school and the private charity fund "Sabi."
At the Center for Sustainable Development, children will learn the basics of engineering, ecology, agricultural technology, and modern technologies. The program also includes designing green urban spaces, studying alternative energy sources, practical classes on growing trees and plants for urban landscaping, as well as preparing research projects for participation in the Shoqan Ecology forum and other scientific competitions.