Episode 125
Fighting for Women’s Rights in Kazakhstan with Journalist Aisana Ashim
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Meet journalist-activist Aisana Ashim
Aisana Ashim is a Kazakh journalist and civil movement activist. She is the founder and head of the independent media agency The Village Kazakhstan, and the co-founder of Masa Media, a political education project. In 2021, Aisana launched Batyr Jamal, an independent media platform aimed at empowering women and girls in Kazakhstan, with educational resources focused on their rights, safety, and self-worth.
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What you’ll learn in this episode:
Aisana’s path to founding independent media
Learning about Kazakhstan's history and geography
The legacy of colonization in Kazakhstan
The state of women’s rights in Kazakhstan and the parallels Aisana sees in the US
Can journalists be activists too?
How our work can fit into the current landscape in the world
Aisana’s favorite places in Almaty and Kazakhstan
“Kazakhstan is a young country. 50 percent of our population is younger than 30 years old. I have hope in this new generation, they will be better than us. They will be more tolerant and more active.”
— Aisana Ashim
Kazakhstan’s Creative Circle
Check out our full interview on YouTube →
Featured on the Show
Watch Qazaq Tili, a documentary about the Soviet erasure of the Kazakh language and culture (English subtitles)
Learn more about the ancient Kazakh warrior queen, Tomiris
Learn more about the unrest in Almaty in 2022
Learn more about the role of radio in Rwanda's genocide
Read Yulia's BBC Travel article about Kazakhstan
Follow Aisana on Instagram
Follow Village Kazakhstan on Instagram
Follow Masa Media on Instagram
Follow Batyr Jamal on Instagram
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