Diversity brings benefits and challenges
in Kazakhstan

Elderly men playing chess on a park bench. Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (KAZ04DJ-21.JPG)

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — The work of the Bible Society in Kazakhstan takes place against a background of great diversity. Not only do the country’s 1 million square miles (2.7 million square kms) contain almost every possible type of landscape, from mountains in the east to lowlands in the west, but its people and the languages they speak are also extremely varied.

Kazakhs account for just over half of the population of 15.4 million, while Russians account for just over a quarter and smaller minorities of Ukrainians, Germans, Chechens, Kurds, Koreans and Central Asian ethnic groups make up the rest. These groups generally live in harmony, although there can be some resentment among ethnic Russians about their status. Economically, Kazakhstan has made considerable progress over recent years, but there are still many people who have yet to feel the benefits: unemployment remains high and the country’s infrastructure is in urgent need of improvement. (WR 390/1 - 02.05)

The stories and photos gathered by Dag Smemo of the Norwegian Bible Society, provide a glimpse into the lives of just some of the people who, whatever their geographical location or social or economic status, are being touched by God’s Word in Kazakhstan.