Kazakhs comprise the largest minority group and one with the greatest cultural and linguistic distinction from the Mongolian majority. Many barriers to access and learning are not unique to Kazakh children but are common for all Mongolian children. These barriers result from systemic weaknesses in education delivery caused by the poor condition or lack of facilities, lack of clear and rights focused legislative and policy basis, lack of learning materials, poor quality teaching and learning environments, the high formal and informal costs associated with schooling, poverty and low standard of living of families. A widening disparity between rural and urban education is also evident. These barriers are compounded for ethnic minority Kazakh children who are highly represented in the out of school groups and who additionally face the significant challenge of language. Kazakh boy with his pet. Ölgii, Western Mongolia, 2015.

In Kazakh, there are two general terms for people who capture, train, and hunt with various birds of prey: "qusbegi" and "sayatshy". Qusbegi comes from the words "qus", meaning "bird", and "bek", meaning "lord", the title thus literally translating as "lord of birds." Kazakh eagle hunter aprentice, Western Mongolia, 2015

The main mosque in Olgii was built in the early 1990s. This mosque was the first mosque in Olgii since the old mosque was destroyed and local imams (Muslim religious leaders) were killed during Stalin-backed purges of religion during the 1930s. Today there is at least 5 mosques inside Olgii, plus more in the small towns in Bayan-Olgii. The call to prayer can be heard several times during the day. The beautiful blue mosque and its minarets (prayer towers) help give the city a Central Asian feel. Olgii, Western Mongolia, 2015