In 2022, the Halyk Charitable Fund supported a team of talented students from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School (NIS) in Almaty—NISKYRAN x SWB—as they represented Kazakhstan in the finals of the Houston FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in the United States.

For the first time, students from grades 9–12 had the opportunity to compete in the final round of one of the world’s most prestigious robotics competitions in the FIRST Tech Challenge category. The Halyk Charitable Fund covered the team’s licensing fees and travel expenses, making their participation possible.

Held in April 2022, the championship brought together top student robotics teams from around the globe. The FIRST Championship is the culminating event of the international youth robotics season and a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Participation in the finals was especially meaningful for the students, as all competitors earn the status of FIRST Alumni, which opens doors to scholarships and grants at leading universities worldwide.

The NISKYRAN x SWB team performed exceptionally well, ranking 57th out of 160 teams in the qualification round and placing in the top 3 among first-time participants.

For the 15 students and two teachers who traveled to Houston, the experience was unforgettable. They gained valuable international exposure, exchanged ideas with peers from other countries, and returned home more inspired and motivated than ever.