Hello everyone! šš» I first learned about KAEF while watching a podcast featuring Dulatbek Ikbayev. What stood out to me wasn't just the scholarship itself, but the idea of a community where alumni invest in the next generation through mentorship and support. My name is Akan Zhetpispayev, and I am finishing 11th grade. I am applying for the grant as a prospective International Relations student at KIMEP University. My passion for politics, education, and youth empowerment has inspired me to create projects that expand opportunities for others. As the founder of Brightful Education, I led an international team of 50+ volunteers. The project was selected among nearly 100 initiatives at the UNICEF Youth Forum and received a $1,000 development grant. Through this work, I also secured mentorship support from a University of Cambridge graduate. I was also honored to become a winner of the UNESCO Ć Arizona State University competition, selected from 435 submissions worldwide and talking on Gender Equity and Climate Change at UN Plaza. What inspires me about KAEF is its commitment to building a community where students support and mentor one another. I hope not only to benefit from this community, but one day to give back to it. In my next post, I'll share the story behind NextStep - a project aimed at making opportunities more accessible for young people.