Gulnazik Bakhramova is a junior at Columbia University, majoring in Political Science with a focus on international relations and comparative politics. Originally from Kerben, Kyrgyzstan, she is passionate about social justice, women’s empowerment, and expanding access to education. Her commitment to these causes stems from her own educational challenges and her time as a U.S. State Department exchange student in California.

Gulnazik co-founded Kel Chai Ich, a nonprofit supporting young Kyrgyz women pursuing higher education. The program offers mentorship, workshops, and university visits across Bishkek to help students explore academic opportunities and build confidence. She was awarded the 2025 Projects for Peace grant through Middlebury College to support this initiative. 

Gulnazik sees the Social Impact Fellowship as an opportunity to turn her work into a sustainable, systemic movement for educational equity and to learn how to build lasting, global impact through partnerships and scalable models.