Reviving Rural Kazakhstan: Aigul Suyunzhanova's Cultural Legacy

Aigul Suyunzhanova's Calling

How One Woman Revived Rural Culture in Kazakhstan's Heartland

Every person's life has a defining purpose, a core that shapes their path. For Aigul Ukimetovna Suyunzhanova, head of the Department of Culture and Language Development in Tselinograd District, that purpose has been a life of public service—one measured by the warmth of restored rural community centers.

She was born in the village of Zhntekek in Korgalzhyn District, Akmola Region. The daughter of Ukimet Suyunzhanovich—a journalist, member of the Writers' Union, and a Soviet Party official—she learned early what it meant to live as a civil servant, with constant relocations as part of the job. Her father's work often came with harsh demands: "Place your Party card on the table, or you go where the work needs fixing." And so the family went. Aigul lived in five different districts of Akmola Region as she grew up, watching her father solve people's problems on the ground. Yet he never neglected his family or his children's upbringing. All his children received a proper education, honored Kazakh traditions, and upheld their customs. He insisted they know their "Zheti Ata" (seven generations of ancestors) and speak their native language. The family had a daily ritual of reading newspapers and classic literature, and their home housed an extensive library.

Her father's example, along with the guidance of her mother, Roza Gabdullovna—a teacher by profession—shaped her character. Following her parents' advice, Aigul graduated from the philology faculty and began her career in Komsomol (Young Communist League) and Party work.

In 2001, she transitioned into social services in the village of Akmol, rising from a rank-and-file specialist to become the akim (mayor) of the rural district.

Since 2013, Aigul Ukimetovna has led the Department of Culture and Language Development in Tselinograd District. At the time, official reports listed only nine functioning cultural centers. The privatization wave of the 1990s had taken its toll on rural areas—many clubs and cultural houses had shut down, their buildings sold off to private owners or left to decay. Villagers persistently demanded their revival. For Aigul, this became no easy task.

Her first major success was reclaiming the House of Culture in the settlement of Tasty. A local entrepreneur, Kuanych Akhmedin, handed the building over to the culture department out of civic concern. With little funding available, the center was restored through collective effort—literally, by the whole community.

She inspired local business leaders to invest in something greater: the spiritual life of their region. Thanks to support from agricultural enterprises and farming cooperatives, many rural clubs received new costumes for their performance groups and musical instruments. She often emphasizes that patronage in Tselinograd District is not just charity—it is a conscious social responsibility of those who live and work there.

Next came the return of the rural cultural center in the village of Manshuk to municipal control, thanks to entrepreneur Timur Pshenov. Meanwhile, in the villages of Karamendy Batyr and Zhanaesil, farm leaders Kanat Temirov and Mars Itbayev transferred the former cultural center buildings to state use under zero-rent agreements.

In 2017, entrepreneur Marat Kamzebayev personally funded the renovation of the House of Culture in the village of Nuresil before handing it over to the state. Today, the district boasts 27 cultural facilities, 22 of which are fully operational hubs for rural residents, offering free clubs, workshops, and libraries. The remaining five require major repairs.

Aigul Suyunzhanova is convinced that the Tselinograd District needs new, modern cultural centers with sports halls and libraries. The district is growing—its population has surpassed 200,000, and eight major villages now fall within the Astana agglomeration. Applications have been submitted to build cultural centers in villages with populations exceeding 1,000. After all, culture is not a luxury—it is the spirit of the people.

Aigul Ukimetovna is a leader who knows every square meter of the facilities under her care. Her winter workday begins with calls to check the boilers in all the district's cultural institutions—she oversees many, and if needed, she visits the villages herself. She cannot allow these cultural hubs to go without heat in winter or risk frozen pipes.

Her efforts have earned recognition at the regional level. Creative ensembles from Tselinograd District have won prizes 11 times at the prestigious Akmola Zholdyzy regional amateur arts festival in Kokshetau. The district has claimed the Grand Prix seven times, expanding its fleet with new vehicles for cultural outreach. Today, she oversees 233 creative collectives, 11 of which hold honorary titles.

Collaboration with the Bozok National Museum-Reserve, located on the district's border, has become strategically vital. The Akmola land holds keys to the ancient history of the steppe civilization, so Aigul Ukimetovna actively supports joint expeditions and cultural projects. Thanks to her initiatives, residents have gained unique insights into the origins of the modern capital. For her, this is a way to instill pride in one's homeland and a sense of deep historical continuity.

Despite her immense workload, Aigul Ukimetovna remains true to her passions and refuses to be disheartened by challenges. "Culture is the cure for all of life's troubles," she believes, "and it is anything but bitter medicine."

She sings beautifully, embroidery flows from her hands like art, and she delves deeply into the sacred geography of her homeland. Her motto: "A person should never waste time. Life is meant for creation, not for idling in front of the television."

Her greatest strength is her family. Her husband—a military veteran—has always stood by her through life's toughest trials. Together, they raised three daughters: the eldest, Aidana, now directs the Family Support Center in Tselinograd District; the middle, Bagdana, serves as a senior lieutenant in the police; and the youngest, Dardana, an 11th-grade student, has chosen a creative path and dreams of studying acting. Aigul Ukimetovna also cherishes her four granddaughters—Asem, Korkem, Yerkem, and Merey.

Today, she continues her journey, placing people and culture above all else. Her life proves that when someone truly loves their land, culture becomes the foundation of society.