Street Law’s Impact in Kazakhstan: Empowering Students, Transforming Schools

In a country where children were once taught only about their duties and obligations, the introduction of Street Law to Kazakhstan in the late 1990s contributed to a wave of change and empowerment to Kazakh youth.

For one such student, a young Khalida Azhigulova, Street Law marked the start of her decades-long, transformative journey from curious student to prominent human rights lawyer, advocate, and politician—a testament to the profound impact Street Law’s program can have on young people and schools.

Transforming Schools Through Interactive Learning

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Kazakh classrooms were characterized by one-sided lectures, with students confined to passive roles.

Bebs Chorak, Deputy Director of Street Law, Inc. during that time, recalled that typically the teacher would come in and lecture for 50 minutes while the students wrote as fast as they could. Students were not allowed to speak or ask questions, and two or three days later they would be given a test.

Then, in the late 1990s through the early 2000s, Street Law implemented a series of programs that brought high-quality curriculum and student-centered, interactive methods into classrooms in Kazakhstan and more than 20 other countries, including each of the former Soviet republics and newly democratized countries in Eastern and Central Europe.

With funding from the Open Society Foundation, Ford Foundation, and American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI), Street Law worked closely with on-the-ground NGOs and law schools—like Kazakh State University—to co-design the programs and curricula and to serve as local implementing partners and experts. 

Alla Kalinina was an assistant professor of law at Kazakh State University at the time and coordinated the Kazakh Street Law program. “Even though they were all former Soviet Union and there appeared to be a lot of similarities, they were still very different areas,” Kalinina said. “You had to be cautious about your approach.” She recalled that local experts were vital for adapting lessons and programs for each region.

The program promoted the use of small-group work, debates, and other interactive teaching methods to engage students in discussions about law, democracy, and human rights. It helped inspire a paradigm shift that infused interactive teaching strategies into the educational ecosystem and allowed students to actively participate, ask questions, and engage more directly in their learning.

“After we introduced interactive strategies to the classroom, the students were amazed because they couldn’t believe they could speak and ask questions,” Chorak said.

The change was not limited to students alone. Teachers, too, found themselves captivated by the power of interactive learning. As they fostered greater communication and interaction with their students, a newfound mutual respect blossomed. Chorak reflected on the unintended outcome, stating, “We were changing the culture of the schools. Changing school culture wasn’t our ultimate goal, but it turned out to be a very successful one.”

At the conclusion of these programs in 2003, hundreds of thousands of young people and adults were reached, law-related education courses were added in 25 countries, and law school-based Street Law programs were established in 12 countries.

Khalida’s Journey: From Student to Advocate

When Khalida Azhigulova was 12 years old, her class was chosen to participate in the first year of the Kazakh Street Law program.

“We started having lessons on human rights, and I found them engaging and interactive,” Dr. Azhigulova said. “Street Law classes were so different from our other classes where you just sit and listen and take notes. I really enjoyed the group work and Street Law’s creative, interactive approach.”

Dr. Azhigulova recalled the transformative power Street Law had on her as a young high school student, saying that participating in the program sparked a passion for defending the rights of others. “Street law motivated me to become a law student and a human rights lawyer,” she said.

Shortly after her encounter with Street Law in her seventh-grade classroom, Dr. Azhigulova received a scholarship to study at an upstate New York high school.

After graduating high school in the United States, she went on to receive a master’s degree in law from Oxford, a Ph.D. from the University of Leicester, and began working with organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Today, in addition to coordinating the Kazakh Street Law program—the same program that she credits with launching her life’s path—Dr. Azhigulova is the Children’s Ombudsperson of Almaty, Kazakhstan, a member of the Expert Council under the Human Rights Commissioner of Kazakhstan, and member of the Research and Advisory Council under the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan.

In 2019, Dr. Azhigulova restarted the then lapsed Kazakh Street Law program, focusing on training teachers to integrate human rights education into their curriculum. With the support of the Minister of Education, Dr. Azhigulova is working to make Street Law an elective course in Kazakhstan again, with the long-term goal of it becoming a mandatory course.

Human rights education serves as the foundation for fostering a democratic culture. By teaching individuals about the basic principles and values of human rights, such as dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, we promote the development of informed citizens who can participate and engage in democratic processes.

“Street Law has become an essential component of governmental programs aimed at raising awareness about the law and has received endorsement from the prime minister,” Dr. Azhigulova said. “The enthusiasm and commitment from across Kazakhstan is encouraging, as we strive to incorporate human rights education into all aspects of society.”

A Lasting Legacy

While Dr. Azhigulova’s transformation from a student beneficiary to a passionate advocate symbolizes the lasting impact of Street Law’s approach, Street Law’s influence extends far beyond the individual journeys of its participants.

Through partnerships with universities, teacher professional development initiatives, and community engagement, Street Law has become a driving force in promoting human rights and public legal education throughout Kazakhstan.

By encouraging open dialogue, mutual respect, and a deep understanding of legal principles, Street Law cultivates generations of young people who are equipped with the confidence to navigate the complexities of the legal system and advocate for justice, not only in Kazakhstan but beyond.