Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomes participants of I CIS Volunteer Forum

The Forum was established at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and by decision of the CIS Council of Heads of Government as an annual platform for consolidating volunteer initiatives and exchanging experiences among CIS countries.

Deputy Prime Minister – Culture and Information Minister Aida Balayeva, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Toily Kurbanov, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay, CIS Deputy Secretary-General Nurlan Seitimov and representatives of volunteer organizations and delegations for the CIS member states attended the opening ceremony.

Aida Balayeva read out the Kazakh President’s address of welcome.

The Head of State emphasized the symbolism of holding the forum during the International Year of Volunteers, proclaimed by the UN at Kazakhstan’s initiative, which acknowledges the great role of volunteers in tackling social, humanitarian, and environmental challenges.

Suggesting holding the forum, Kazakhstan aimed to create a permanent CIS platform for volunteer cooperation and consolidation of volunteer initiatives in the international arena.

The President stressed the need to focus on building friendship bridges and enrooting values such as solidarity, compassion, and mercy.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said volunteering serves the development of human potential, promoting the idea of responsible citizenship and building a new public ethics. He reminded the new Constitution of Kazakhstan took effect this July 1 and enshrines state support for volunteerism at the highest legal level.

He highlighted the nationwide movement Taza Qazaqhstan (Clean Kazakhstan), which quickly united citizens, especially youth.

Nearly 300,000 volunteers participated in thousands of events during the Year of Volunteers.

In conclusion, the Head of State wished forum participants fruitful work and great joint achievements.

The two-day event brings together 300 delegates from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The forum will feature panel sessions, thematic discussions, and presentations of successful practices.

Utmost attention will be paid to the development of interstate cooperation and forming joint initiatives in ecology, social and inclusive support and youth volunteerism.

Earlier Qazinform reported, Kazakhstan proposed creating a unified international portal for volunteers under the United Nations to register volunteers, determine their status and organize their areas of activity.