The AUYL SPORT project is expanding its reach and offering new opportunities. As part of the program, another exciting sport—table tennis—will now be available in rural areas. This initiative is being implemented through a partnership between the Halyk Charity Fund, founded by Timur and Dinara Kulibayev, and the Table Tennis Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The main goal of this agreement is to develop table tennis in rural areas, engage children in sports, and enhance the skills of coaches and referees. Through the AUYL SPORT project, children in villages will gain new opportunities to develop their talents.
As part of the initiative, both parties have agreed to provide methodological support, organize competitions, and hold other sporting events. Additionally, this collaboration aims to promote a culture of philanthropy and encourage mass participation in sports.
“Developing sports in rural areas is one of our foundation’s key objectives. We have been implementing large-scale projects to promote grassroots sports across the regions. The inclusion of table tennis in the AUYL SPORT project marks the beginning of new opportunities for children and teenagers,” says Galymbek Zhaksylykov, Executive Director of the Halyk Charity Fund.
Table tennis is one of the most accessible sports in the world. It does not require expensive equipment and can even be organized in small rural schools. The sport is rapidly developing in Kazakhstan, and thanks to the AUYL SPORT project, children in rural areas will now have the opportunity to reach a professional level.
AUYL SPORT – A Platform for Future Champions
Launched in 2024, the AUYL SPORT project has become the largest sports initiative for children in rural areas. Last year, 12,000 young athletes from 200 settlements participated in regional tournaments, with 1,300 top competitors advancing to the finals from 17 regions. The project currently includes boxing, wrestling, karate, basketball, volleyball, and chess, and table tennis will be added in 2025.
Since 2016, the Halyk Charity Fund has implemented more than 120 social projects focused on education, healthcare, and sports development. AUYL SPORT is one of the foundation’s systematic initiatives aimed at making sports accessible to children, shaping their character, and opening up new opportunities for them.
This project is changing lives by ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, has the chance to engage in sports.
“AUYL SPORT is Halyk Charity Fund’s investment in Kazakhstan’s future. Every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” says Galymbek Zhaksylykov.
