There is a common belief that Kazakhstan’s villages are emptying as young people leave in search of better opportunities in the cities. Yet the story we are about to tell challenges that narrative. A teenager left one of Almaty’s elite schools for gifted students and moved to a rural community of just two thousand residents. His goal was not a quieter life, but robotics, DKNews.kz reports.
Imangali Tasbolat is a 17-year-old engineer on the “WATER-7” team from the village of Zhylandy. His team successfully passed a rigorous regional selection process: out of 1,200 applicants, only 450 teams qualified for the Central Asia FIRST Championship. They are now competing for the opportunity to represent Kazakhstan at the international FIRST Championship final in Houston, United States.
The main stage for this technological contest is ALEM TECH FEST 2026, held from February 11 to 13 at the EXPO exhibition center in the capital. The event has brought together around 5,000 students from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Estonia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. The festival’s general sponsor is Samruk-Kazyna.
Why Zhylandy Instead of a Megacity?
Imangali’s decision quickly became one of the most talked-about moves in Kazakhstan’s education community. In early 2025, he left a top Almaty-based team to join a rural one. According to him, the opportunities for growth turned out to be greater there.
“My journey in robotics began in 2022 thanks to my mathematics teacher. I trained at the Republican Physics and Mathematics School, where I met my mentor, Aidos Ordabayev. When he was invited to lead a team in Zhylandy, he asked me to join him. I agreed without hesitation,” Imangali says.
His parents were initially skeptical about the move, but he convinced them of its long-term potential. Paradoxically, this small village is home to one of the most advanced robotics laboratories in the country.
Infrastructure Makes the Difference
The key to Zhylandy’s success lies in private initiative and philanthropy. With the support of entrepreneur Bauyrzhan Ospanov, a modern STEM laboratory was established in the village, equipped with advanced tools and machinery.
“For Kazakhstan, having such a laboratory in a small village is still an exception rather than the rule. Building a robot requires serious investment: specialized equipment, expensive kits, and proper facilities. If there is a strong foundation and people willing to invest in young talent, development is possible anywhere, whether in a large city or a rural community. Without resources, enthusiasm alone is not enough,” Imangali explains.
Eyes on Houston
Despite being a relatively young team, Imangali and his teammates have already earned awards at prestigious competitions in Indonesia and Shanghai. Their current goal is the FIRST Championship 2026 world final, which brings together around 50,000 participants from across the globe.
Kazakhstan has achieved significant success in STEM disciplines in recent years. The national team is a four-time world champion and confirmed this status at the FIRST Global Challenge 2025 in Panama. In addition, at the FIRST Championship 2025 in Houston, Kazakh students from Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools placed third, officially joining the ranks of the world’s top young roboticists.
At the end of our conversation, Imangali shared a message for aspiring robotics students: “The most important thing is never to stop growing.”
His story proves that geography is not a barrier to talent when the right conditions are in place. The Zhylandy case should serve as an example for the entire country: children in remote areas deserve the same opportunities as their peers in major cities. Judging by Kazakhstan’s victories on the global stage, such investments are already paying off.
