The International Forum of Volunteers held in Astana is designed to promote the development and support of the volunteer movement. The organizers of the forum also seek to present Kazakhstan's experience in the field of volunteering, create a positive image of the country in the international arena, as well as raise the status of volunteers and strengthen cooperation and interaction, El.kz reports.
Within the framework of the forum, participants discuss various areas related to the activities of volunteers. Sessions were organized on the topics "Social Volunteering and Inclusion", "Volunteer Initiatives in Education and Digitalization", "Measuring the Value and Significance of the Contribution of Volunteering to the Implementation of the SDGs" and "Green Footprint: Volunteers' Contribution to Solving Environmental Problems". Master classes, pitchings and other formats are also part of the forum program.
More than 40 speakers from 34 countries take part in the forum. Among them are high-ranking representatives such as Executive Coordinator of the UN Volunteer Program Toili Kurbanov, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Dauren Abayev., Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries Mehmet Sureya Er, director, founder of the Cultural Initiatives Foundation Timur Bekmambetov, musician and president of the ANVAR Association Haluk Levent from Turkey, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Storey, head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan Arthur Van Diesen and others.
In addition to the participants of the forum, delegates from all regions of Kazakhstan also take part, which makes the event representative and diverse. The total number of participants is more than 400 people, including 140 representatives of international organizations and foreign guests.
The forum provides a unique platform for the exchange of experience and the transfer of knowledge between volunteers from different countries and regions. Participants have the opportunity to discuss current topics related to social volunteering, education and digitalization, measuring the value of volunteering and its impact on achieving sustainable development, as well as solutions to environmental problems.
This forum contributes to the creation of international relations and the strengthening of cooperation between volunteer organizations from different countries. It also emphasizes the importance and value of volunteerism in achieving global development goals. Forum participants will be able to exchange experiences, learn from each other and create a positive impact on society together.