On September 25, 2023, the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted a Leadership lecture by Estelle Payen, President of XCSS — CROSS COUNTRY SKIING SAND (Paris, France), on the topic "Promoting the values of sport and cooperation to preserve the living heritage of Kazakhstan, key elements of sustainability and adaptation of the community to the climate: on the example of the XCSS "Climate" project can't wait"".

Estelle Payen – Master of Science in Biochemistry, Master in the specialty "Management of the agro-food industry". Certified specialist of sports nutrition and pharmacology of nutrients, author of articles on nutrition, health, efficiency, expeditions.

The activities of the Estelle Payen company are aimed at raising awareness and finding solutions to combat climate change, using sport as a unifying and driving vector. The project is part of the UN global initiative aimed at achieving SDG No. 3 - Good health and well-being, SDG No. 5 - Gender equality, SDG No. 6 - Clean water and sanitation, SDG No. 13 - Combating climate change, SDG No. 15 - Preserving terrestrial ecosystems. The project was presented at the panel session of the Astana International Forum (AIF), which was held in June 2023, dedicated to the problem of water scarcity.

The project, which raises awareness of actions to combat climate change, offers a unique approach to sports by offering cross-country skiing on sand and other surfaces instead of using artificial snow. The third stage of the project, scheduled for June next year in Kazakhstan, is aimed at promoting ecotourism and demonstrating the useful capabilities of remote areas to adapt to climate change.