 Through the EcoCenter, Atakhanova was able to lead a successful campaign to prevent nuclear waste from being commercially imported and disposed of in Kazakhstan.Atakhanova is the founder of the "Karaganga Ecological Center", or "EcoCenter", which focuses on environmental protection and promoting grassroots democracy.She is also a founding member of the "Women's Earth Alliance" ("WEA"), an organization that seeks to empower women and equip them with the skills and tools needed to protect the earth.