Kazakhstan hosted a two-day meeting of volunteer movement leaders within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Youth Council on Oct. 3-4 in Astana. The event focused on the importance of volunteerism in society and its role in promoting sustainable development across Asia.
Participants explored a range of topics, including the role of volunteers in emergency situations, their contributions to addressing environmental challenges, social and inclusive volunteering, the role of volunteers on the international stage, and their impact on the healthcare sector.
Solidarity in action
In his address to the participants, State Counselor of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin emphasized that supporting the development of the volunteer movement is a key priority in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s policies.
He highlighted the President’s acknowledgement of the crucial role volunteers play in advancing social justice and strengthening unity and solidarity within society.
Karin recalled the significant contribution volunteers made during the COVID-19 pandemic, with around 500,000 Kazakh citizens participating in volunteer activities.
“Similarly, during recent natural and man-made emergencies, people demonstrated solidarity once again. Thanks to the joint efforts of government agencies, public associations, youth, and volunteer organizations, as well as thousands of caring people, we were able to manage the largest spring floods in the last 80 years,” said Karin.
He also praised volunteers’ contributions to the country’s environmental initiative, Taza Kazakhstan (Clean Kazakhstan), supported by Tokayev.