«If I have the chance to experience other cultures, learn new languages and see new worlds, I should take it! Then I'll go back, with a new luggage of experiences and knowledge». 

Introducing Tina and Matina, Kazakhstani girls  and Krakow expats., sharing their thoughts on Kazakh society, the West and motherhood in the age of global citizenship.

© Benedetta Leardini
Music © Lorenzo Moroni
Thanks to: Thomas Bisiacco

Through the eyes of

Through the Eyes of - Episode #1 (Tina and Matina)

«When they first know that I'm from Kazakhstan, people ask me two kind of questions. Those who know that Kazakhstan is some part of Central Asia, they ask: why Kazakhstani sometimes look European and sometimes Asian? And those who think Kazakhstan is more or less Europe, because it ends in 'stan', they ask: why you look Asian?». Tina and Matina share their thoughts on what people should know about their home country, but also women condition and gender gap.

© Benedetta Leardini
Music © Lorenzo Moroni
Thanks to: Thomas Bisiacco

Through the Eyes of

Through the Eyes of - Episode #2 (Tina and Matina)

«I tried to ask my grandmother's sister. I wanted to know more about the times of deportation, how it happened and what was it about. She told she didn't want ot talk about it because it's too painful».
Introducing Anastasja, a member of the Polish diaspora of Kazakhstan.

© Benedetta Leardini
Music © Lorenzo Moroni
Thanks to Jacqueline Orr and Julia Parkhomenko

Through the Eyes of - Episode #3

«On one hand you grew up in Kazakhstan, you feel that it's your homeland because you were born and raised there. But, on the other hand, sometimes it could be difficult to be a citizen of your own country».
Anastasja, a Kazakh with Polish roots, talks about opportunities and obstacles of the multicultural society of Kazakhstan.

© Benedetta Leardini
Music © Lorenzo Moroni
Thanks to Jacqueline Orr and Julia Parkhomenko

Through the Eyes of - Episode #4

During this episode we will lean more about Beshbarmak, a Khazakh traditional dish, Bigos, a Polish specialty, and we'll hear about the differences in how Polish people and Kazakh people like to party. 

© Benedetta Leardini
Music © Lorenzo Moroni
Thanks to Jacqueline Orr and Julia Parkhomenko

Through the Eyes of - Episode #5

Through The Eyes Of is a podcast series exploring Central Asian culture and more specifically, Kazakh culture. Each episode features a Kazakhstani youngster. Their stories portray the past and present of a region which is often left behind. 
Hopefully they will encourage to further discover Central Asia.

The project is part of the activity of Institute for Eastern Initiatives.


Institute for Eastern Initiatives (Instytut Wschodnich Inicjatyw, IWI) was founded in 2010 in Kraków in order to support cooperation and exchange of experiences between the European Union, Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia.  

The main goals of the organization are: intensifying cooperation between the East and the West, overcoming stereotypes, and fostering intercultural dialogue. 

Our actions undertaken to promote and demythologize the area of the former Soviet Union include, among others: international and nationwide research, educational, and socio-cultural projects, thematic meetings, festivals, study visits, and trainings. 

IWI is a member of Grupa Zagranica and the Lesser Poland Federation of Non-governmental Organizations.

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