How Aisha Orymbayeva created the largest network of children's programming schools in Kazakhstan

In 2017, while still a third-year student, Aisha Orymbaeva decided to open her own programming school for children. Today, according to Forbes Kazakhstan, Element is the largest network of programming schools in the country, teaching children to create websites and applications, work with design, and develop logical thinking. And Aisha is one of the leading entrepreneurs in the field of children's IT education in Central Asia.

“When I enrolled in the IT major, I realized that I knew almost nothing about the profession,” Aisha recalls. “It became clear to me: children need to be introduced to this field at an early age. Then they will better understand their future profession and will be able to develop skills systematically.”

How it all began

Aisha graduated from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School, then entered university to become a programmer. But even with such a background, the first steps in IT were not easy.

“I saw how difficult it is to enter the profession without basic knowledge. After all, the IT industry was already developing rapidly, and I understood that the future lay in this direction,” she says.

This thought became the starting point: Aisha decided to create a space where children could study IT just like sports or music — from an early age and gradually increasing the level of complexity.

First challenges

When the school first opened, children's IT education was new to Kazakhstan. Many parents did not understand why their children needed to learn programming. “They often thought we were just teaching them how to turn on a computer or make presentations,” Aisha explains. “We had to explain that we were developing skills that would help them get into top universities and be competitive in the future.”

The situation gradually changed. By 2020, Element already had 12 branches in different cities across the country, including Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Taraz, Pavlodar, Aktobe, Atyrau, and Aktau.

The pandemic became a catalyst for transitioning to online learning. This gave the school the opportunity to work with children not only from Kazakhstan but also from other countries.

What makes Element unique

Unlike short-term courses, Element offers a year-long program that covers various areas: from logic and algorithms to web development and application design.

Aisha and her team use foreign accredited platforms adapted for children, making learning both accessible and engaging.

Special attention is paid to the skill of “learning how to learn.” Students are taught how to formulate search queries, find useful materials in Russian and English, analyze information, and apply it in practice. “Not all families can afford additional tutoring, so we give children tools that allow them to develop even independently,” Aisha explains.

In 2022, Aisha even made it onto the Forbes Kazakhstan “30 Under 30” list — a prestigious ranking that annually selects young leaders who have made a significant impact on the development of their industry.

Future plans

The Element team has ambitious plans: to enter the English-speaking market and launch programs to prepare children for international programming olympiads. This will help students receive grants and enroll in leading world universities.

“We want children to simultaneously improve their English language skills and programming abilities. This will open up opportunities for them that were previously only dreams,” Aisha says.

Contribution to industry development

Since 2021, Element has been part of the Astana Hub ecosystem and annually participates in the Digital Bridge IT school exhibition. Experts note that Aisha Orymbaeva’s activities help shape a generation of specialists ready to compete at the international level and change attitudes toward IT education in Kazakhstan.