Fariza Fazyl, a student at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Astana, has been recognized as one of the ten winners of the prestigious international competition, The New York Times Open Letter Contest. This year, nearly 10,000 participants from around the world competed for the title, and only the top ten were honored with the publication of their letters in one of the world’s most influential newspapers.

Fariza chose an unusual yet profound topic—traditions associated with Kazakh women’s names. Her letter was inspired by stories shared by older generations, friends, and media discussions. Although Fariza herself had not faced this issue directly, she deeply connected with the topic and skillfully conveyed her concerns in writing, capturing the attention of the international jury.

“I read letters from past winners and started reflecting. The topic of names came to me naturally. I was concerned about how often traditions shape a girl’s destiny from birth, starting with the name she is given,” Fariza shared.

The competition required participants to write an open letter—a genre in which the author addresses a specific audience while raising an issue relevant and understandable to the broader public. A mandatory condition was that the letter should not only inform but also persuade readers to act or reflect.

This is not Fariza’s first success in international academic competitions. In 2025, she won second place at Infomatrix Asia and became a semifinalist representing Kazakhstan in Technovation Girls.

The student envisions her future in science, particularly in biomedical engineering.

“I enjoy writing articles and essays—it’s exciting when you write about something that truly matters to you. But in the future, I would like to make a real impact through science,” says Fariza.

 

Source: nis.edu.kz