Inspire the Growth of Kazakhstan's Global Citizens

Salem Social Village has always been about bringing change. Change to people, change to families, change to turn bad situations into something better, or difficult circumstances into a hopeful future.

Over the years, we've seen many people helped in many positive ways, whether by a wheelchair, a new perspective, a helping hand or simply a kind word and a friendly smile.

Our ultimate goal, however, remains bringing change to the culture: not in the sense of the traditions and cultural expressions of Kazakhstan, but in the way that people think, the assumptions they hold, their deeper understanding of the world around them. 

During the last 15 years, the culture here has changed a huge amount. Growing prosperity has led to greater opportunities and expectations, and the consumerist mindset has taken root: defining oneself by the coffee I drink, the clothes I wear, the things I post on social media. Value is understood as what I have.

Yet the natural endpoint of that way of life is an endless chase after more. I am never quite satisfied.

One of the things we see getting lost is the natural rhythms of life, the chance to stop and rest, to experience satisfaction. And then start again. 

If I never have enough, every moment needs to be put to use in earning more, posting more, obtaining more. Rest days are lost days if the only measure is money.

But Salem is trying to operate on a different basis, demonstrating another approach.

At Salem, August every year is time to stop, take a break, and rest satisfied at the end of the academic year before the next one begins.

Embracing the rhythms.

And so there isn't much to report this month. The teachers have taken the month off, the site staff are busy doing repairs, and the team is shortly to return to full speed ahead as a new semester commences.

There will always be more students to enroll, classes to teach, people to help, ways to influence. But for now, we're busy being grateful and satisfied in what we have, and embracing those rhythms that bring us life.

Thanks for supporting us as we embrace a different rhythm.