About us

Uniting civil society, government, and business to advance the quality of education nationwide

Advancing the educational vision of aitas foundation

Working towards a thriving nation and a happy, prosperous future for generations to come

Trust and Drive

Responsibility and Freedom

Curiosity and Courage

Love

Wisdom

Strength of Will

The Foundation for Sustainable Education Development is a team of like-minded individuals united by a belief in the transformative power of education. We have taken responsibility for the future of our country and are committed to shaping it through meaningful action.
Our journey is driven by the courage to dream big and act boldly, embracing challenges and learning from mistakes along the way. We find purpose and inspiration in creating a world where every child has a strong foundation of values and the confidence to define their own path in life. for the future of our country and are committed to shaping it through meaningful action.

In a world where the future is becoming increasingly unpredictable, inner values and clarity of thought remain the only truly sustainable foundation. for the future of our country and are committed to shaping it through meaningful action.

We believe that education is, above all, a space for personal growth and the development of character. for the future of our country and are committed to shaping it through meaningful action.
We aspire to create a brighter future for every child. To make this possible, we serve with purpose and commitment here and now.

The Foundation’s story began in 2019, when entrepreneur Serik Tolukpayev initiated the establishment of the Foundation for Sustainable Rural Development. The Foundation brought together people committed to improving the quality of life in rural communities. Its work began in the Katon-Karagay District, the entrepreneur’s home region.

In 2019, the Foundation for Sustainable Rural Development and Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools launched the “Rural School Powered by NIS” project. The initiative aims to bridge the gap in education quality between rural and urban schools. “Quality education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live,” the project partners stated.

In 2022, the founders of the Foundation for Sustainable Rural Development established a separate organization dedicated to educational initiatives — the Foundation for Sustainable Education Development.

On July 14, 2022, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Qazaqstan Halqyna Foundation, the Foundation for Sustainable Education Development, and Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools JSC. Under the agreement, a grant of KZT 4.25 billion was allocated to support the charitable project “Developing the Potential of Rural Hub Schools.”

In 2023, the second phase of the “Developing the Potential of Rural Hub Schools” project was launched. This phase included 62 schools in districts and single-industry towns across Kazakhstan.

In 2024, another 56 schools across Kazakhstan joined the rural hub school development project.

In December 2024, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited a rural hub school in the city of Khromtau. During the visit, the President was introduced to the school's educational practices and observed students conducting laboratory experiments.

The “Hub-and-Magnet Schools” was selected for the HundrED Global Collection, a prestigious international collection of educational innovations.

HundrED is a respected international organization based in Finland that annually selects 100 of the world's most promising educational innovations.

By the end of 2025, FURO's initiatives had reached more than 222,000 students and 23,000 teachers across 416 rural general education institutions throughout Kazakhstan.

In March 2026, Uryl Secondary School in the Katon-Karagay District of East Kazakhstan Region became the first school in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to be recognized as a Google Reference School.

Vision

A sustainable and prosperous country

Mission

To be a driving force for change, shaping a generation equipped to succeed in the age of intellectual capitalism

Strategy

Shaping the values of future generations through collaboration across the education system