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.

Listen to the Episode

What you’ll hear:

  • The legacy of colonization in Kazakhstan
  • The state of women’s rights in Kazakhstan and 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
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“Kazakhstan is a young country. 50% of our population is younger than 30. I have hope in this new generation, they will be better than us. They will be more tolerant and more active.” – Aisana Ashim
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Check out our interview on YouTube →

  • 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
  • Follow Aisana on Instagram
“The world is so complicated. Sometimes, you just want to be in your box and not see. But how can you turn away?” – Aisana Ashim