Kazakh President has described “volunteering” as a form of responsible patriotism and pledged state support for the strongest initiatives, El.kz reports.
Forum held at a turning point
Addressing the Volunteers Forum, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the meeting is taking place amid global instability and internal transformations, a time when unity and personal responsibility are especially important.
“Only people with noble intentions and pure hearts choose this path. By becoming volunteers, they devote themselves to tireless work.
Without exaggeration, it can be stated that the volunteer movement is a reflection of a progressively minded society,” the President of Kazakhstan said.
Tested by crises and real actions
During his speech, Kazakh President raised an interesting point about the experience of recent years. During the pandemic, thousands of volunteers worked on the front lines, helping doctors, teachers, and those in vulnerable situations. This contribution, according to Tokayev, became evident to the entire country.
Volunteers played a similar role during large-scale floods, when they worked alongside rescue services to eliminate the consequences of the natural disaster. At such moments, the President noted, it becomes especially clear who is ready to take responsibility.
Scale of the movement and its growth
The Head of State cited figures that clearly reflect the dynamics of the volunteer movement. If in 2020 there were 50,000 volunteers in the country, today their number has reached 300,000. The President described this growth as the result of trust and support from both the state and society.
At the same time, infrastructure has expanded. Kazakhstan now has one national and twenty regional front offices, while the number of organizations engaged in socially beneficial activities has increased nearly fourfold.
Digital transformation and new tools
Tokayev paid particular attention to the introduction of technology. He recalled that in his Address, the task was set to turn Kazakhstan into a fully digital state within three years. The volunteer movement should not remain on the sidelines, he said.
The President supported the idea of creating a digital volunteer passport. Such a tool would make it possible to record each participant’s contribution and make volunteering more transparent and officially recognized.
“Advanced technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are penetrating all spheres of life. The volunteer movement should not remain on the sidelines.
I fully support the idea of creating a digital volunteer passport,” the Head of State said.
Ecology as a space of responsibility
The President highlighted the importance of the environmental agenda. Volunteers, Tokayev noted, are actively involved in improving settlements and shaping a new environmental culture. Last year, over 1,300 events were held within the framework of the ‘Taza Kazakhstan’ initiative.
The President emphasized that a high level of environmental culture is a hallmark of a civilized society. In this regard, he called for special attention to be paid to training professional eco-volunteers in the regions.
The international dimension of volunteering
Tokayev also outlined the external dimension. Kazakhstan participates in the UN Volunteers Programme, giving citizens the opportunity to gain unique international experience. In the future, he said, it is important to create new platforms for sharing best practices and coordinating initiatives.
Among the planned activities, he mentioned environmental weeks and international volunteer projects aimed at preserving the region’s unique ecosystems.
“In addition to the UN, Kazakhstan is developing the volunteer movement within such very important organizations as the SCO, CICA, and the CIS. For example, this year, at our initiative, Kazakhstan will host the first Forum of Volunteers of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
As you know, Kazakhstan is holding the International Year of Volunteers under the slogan ‘Together – for a sustainable future!’” the President recalled.
Instructions to Government and role of business
In the practical part of his speech, the President stated the need for a new document on the development of volunteering through 2030. The current three-year roadmap is coming to an end, and, in Tokayev’s view, a more substantive and long-term strategy is required.
A separate message was addressed to business. The Head of State called on entrepreneurs to more actively develop corporate volunteering and support socially significant projects. In this context, he recalled the establishment of the “Meirim” Order as a sign of respect for responsible and caring citizens.
Responsible patriotism as a common benchmark
Concluding his speech, the President linked the topic of volunteering to broader constitutional reforms. He emphasized that changes to the Basic Law are aimed at shaping responsible and constructive patriotism.
Love for the Motherland, Tokayev said, is expressed not in slogans, but in daily honest work and the desire to make the country fairer, safer, and cleaner.