Montes Alti Educational Foundation

Montes Alti Educational Foundation 10 year anniversary

Founding Vision

The Montes Alti Educational Foundation (MAEF) was established on the principle that every young person deserves the chance to discover their strengths. Dinara Kulibayeva founded MAEF in Geneva in 2013 with a clear purpose – to reach children and teenagers who might otherwise remain on the margins of one of the world’s most dynamic educational cities.

MAEF is about providing dignity, opportunity, and creating spaces where every child can learn, grow, and find their own way. Under her leadership, MAEF has become a bridge between young people and the cultural, creative, and educational life of Geneva.

Key Initiatives

Urban Move Academy

The Urban Move Academy (UMA) gives young people access to creative, movement-led education including dance, parkour, skateboarding, design, and music. Many of the children who join UMA face social or economic challenges, yet through structured training and mentorship, they build confidence, discipline, and discover the joy of self-expression.

UMA has grown into a vibrant community, with a dedicated space in Geneva where students form new friendships, learn new skills, and even showcase their talents internationally. Every year, 25 young people join the academy’s full-time, two-year curriculum.

Le Pôle Competence Centre

Le Pôle Competence Centre is a hub for educational research, teacher training, and curricular innovation.

It brings together educators, academics, and policymakers to share best practices and develop new teaching methods that reflect the evolving needs of modern classrooms.

The centre helps improve teaching quality and supports lifelong learning across Geneva’s schools, ensuring that both teachers and students benefit from the latest thinking in education.

Scene Active

Scene Active is a social integration programme that uses theatre, music, multimedia, and fashion to engage young adults facing barriers to education or employment.

Working with local partners such as Hospice Général and FASE, the initiative engages participants aged 17 to 25 who face social or professional difficulties, offering them a creative platform to build confidence, teamwork, and practical skills.

The programme culminates annually in a public performance that showcases their achievements and reinforces a sense of belonging and purpose within the community.

Thinkers of Tomorrow

Thinkers of Tomorrow was launched by MAEF to inspire debate and generate fresh ideas about the future of education and society.

Through public lectures and discussions, the programme brings leading philosophers, educators, and scientists to Geneva to share their insights on how to prepare the next generation for a changing world. Past speakers have included Luc Ferry, former French Minister of National Education, philosopher André Comte-Sponville, and neuroscientist Marc Turiault.

By simplifying complex ideas and broadening their audience, Thinkers of Tomorrow encourages reflection, curiosity, and lifelong learning – values at the heart of MAEF’s mission.

Shaping the Educational Landscape

Through MAEF, Dinara Kulibayeva has sought to give children and young people the change to explore their talents, build resilience, and thrive — extending Geneva’s strengths in education into the social and cultural spaces that shape their futures.

Dinara Kulibayeva with Urban Move Academy’s students and leaders at the project’s 2024 performance.

Dinara Kulibayeva is backstage with Nicolas Musin – choreographer and director of UMA – and a student. Théâtre Am Stram Gram, Geneva, Switzerland.

Dinara Kulibayeva joins the Urban Moves Academy students at the project’s inaugural event. This was the first performance of MAEF’s flagship project: the series of performances was a phenomenal success, becoming an annual fixture for the Foundation.

Related projects

NNEF Public Foundation

NNEF Public Foundation has been at the heart of Kazakhstan’s transformation in education – from early years to post-graduate level – for almost three decades. Under Dinara’s leadership, the foundation has introduced international standards to educational institutions, supported teacher training, and championed modern approaches to learning.

To date, NNEF has invested more than $250 million into developing educational infrastructure, academic programmes, and opportunities for children and youth across Kazakhstan.

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MIRAS International Schools and Higher Education

The MIRAS International Schools, established by NNEF in Almaty and Astana, became among the first in Kazakhstan to adopt the International Baccalaureate while balancing it with national curriculum priorities. These schools are part of Dinara Kulibayeva’s long term investment in Kazakhstan’s future – a commitment to nurturing well rounded, confident, socially responsible young people.

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SOS Children’s Villages Kazakhstan

SOS Children’s Villages Kazakhstan was incorporated into NNEF in 2018. It reflects Dinara’s dedication to creating stable and nurturing environments for children without parental care or those at risk of losing it, while laying strong foundations for their future. Her leadership has helped secure long-term support for the organisation, ensuring that children grow up surrounded by care, opportunity, and hope.

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