Alerk is a double major student at Leiden University, concentrating on Global and Comparative Perspectives in Philosophy, and Arts, Media and Society (sociology through an artistic and digital perspective).
He has a passion for the fine arts, politics and philosophy. He tries to use what he has learned to promote awareness about world issues, such as human rights abuses (including the Uyghur cause), animal mistreatment, and ecological destruction.
He used to be ranked in the national top 10 in chess (Leonardo chess tournament; 2010, 2011) and basketball (NBB; Dutch Basketball League) for his age category. He is involved in debate club, the Dutch GreenLeft party, and the East Turkestan independence movement. In working with the GreenLeft party, he is trying to create change through political means, and lobbying for the Uyghur cause within Dutch politics. He supports organizations such as Amnesty International, NatureDefence, and Mental Health foundations. A personal step that he has taken to combat climate change and animal abuse is becoming vegan.
He hopes to see all the Uyghur youth come together in one unifying body (as he sees on the Tarim Network), believing we can all achieve great things if we work with one another.