Foreign Ethnic Kazakh Youth Assemble at Burabai Ethno-Camp
The **Jas Qazaq Summer Educational Ethno-Camp** is a unique project that brings together ethnic Kazakh children from around the world for a two-week immersion into Kazakh culture and history. Now in its fifth year, the camp is held at IQanat High School in Burabay, Kazakhstan, and is organised by the Otandastar Qory Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This year, approximately 150 children from nine countries, including the USA, Turkey, Poland, the UAE, Russia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, will participate in the camp, which runs from July 9 to July 20. Participants are selected through competitive contests organised by Otandastar Qory.
During the camp, the children immerse themselves in a rich cultural experience, learning the Kazakh language, national history, and traditions. They get hands-on experience, building yurts (traditional nomadic dwellings) and horseback riding, and participate in educational opportunities, such as attending fairs with representatives from top universities in Kazakhstan.
The primary objectives of the Jas Qazaq camp are to strengthen the bond between ethnic Kazakh youth abroad and their historical homeland, ensuring the preservation and transmission of Kazakh language, traditions, and values among the diaspora. The camp also provides information about educational opportunities in Kazakhstan and fosters academic aspirations, creating a global network of young Kazakhs who share cultural heritage and mutual support.
The camp represents a significant effort by the Kazakh government to maintain cultural ties with its diaspora and to invest in the future of the nation by empowering its youth. Notable participants include Auez Tileu, a participant from China, who performed folk songs and played the dombyra at the camp, and Zhanerke Yerserik, a first-time visitor to Kazakhstan, who was moved by her experience and expressed a desire to relocate to Astana with her family to pursue her education.
Looking ahead, the Jas Qazaq summer camp plans to expand further in the future, continuing its mission of fostering cultural connections, preserving traditions, and empowering the next generation of Kazakh youth. The camp's map is designed by The Astana Times, and more information can be found on their website.
At the Jas Qazaq Summer Educational Ethno-Camp, the children engage not only in traditional Kazakh activities like horseback riding and yurt building, but also in educational sessions, such as attending fairs with university representatives, which promotes both their lifestyle and education-and-self-development. This immersive experience aims to not only strengthen cultural ties but also to inspire academic aspirations, providing valuable information about educational opportunities in Kazakhstan and fostering a network of young Kazakhs who share a common cultural heritage and support one another.
