Volunteers’ work during emergencies discussed at International Forum in Astana

Participants and guests of the International Volunteer Forum discussed the importance of developing international volunteering and the work of volunteers during emergencies, El.kz reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The session "International Volunteer Initiatives: Approaches and Practices" was held within the framework of the International Volunteer Forum.

Representatives of major foreign organizations spoke at the session: Kairat Sarybay, CICA Secretary General, Dauren Abayev, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Mikaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Timur Bekmambetov, director, founder of the Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, Nurtore Zhusip, Deputy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ronnie Lindstrom, UNFPA Representative, Country Director in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, UNV Regional Policy Specialist Ms. Emiliya Asadova, Katariina Järvi, Specialist in Women's Entrepreneurship at the World Food Program (Finland) and others.

The forum participants discussed the development of international volunteering, its practical approaches and problems, and also proposed ways to solve them. There was an active growth of international volunteering. For example, as part of the work with the United Nations Development Program, 7 volunteers from Kazakhstan worked in various UN structures in Jordan, Kenya, Thailand and Turkey.

Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Volunteers Program in Kazakhstan, a draft Roadmap was developed to promote the initiatives of the Head of State, voiced during a speech at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on the proclamation of the International Year of Volunteer Mobilization. This initiative was discussed at various international dialogue platforms, in particular within the framework of events held in Russia, Thailand, China and Turkey.

The result of the session was the adoption of the final resolution of the International Volunteer Forum.

There was also a session "Volunteering in Emergency Situations" within the framework of the International Volunteer Forum. The session was moderated by Vitaly Nikonovich from the Association of UNESCO Clubs.

Representatives of state bodies of Kazakhstan and Turkey, as well as foreign organizations from Europe and the CIS, including Syrym Sharipkhanov, Ertan Ozchaban, Dilmira Blatz, Seval Guzelkilinç, Tatyana Mironyuk, Rimma Sabaeva and others, spoke at the session.

The participants discussed examples of mobilizing volunteers in emergency situations, as well as their work in peacetime, taking into account the challenges they face in this area.

For example, in general, during the pandemic, volunteers provided assistance to more than 1 million 258 thousand citizens who found themselves in difficult life situations (war and labor veterans, lonely elderly people, socially vulnerable categories of citizens, large families, low-income families). More than 93 thousand food packages, 5.5 million masks were distributed. To conduct public monitoring, a group of volunteers and activists created the "Public Control" group, consisting of 397 volunteers throughout the country

During the fire in the Kostanay region, more than 1000 volunteers collected about 1200 tons of aid for the victims, organized the dispatch of 150 cars with food and basic necessities. During the emergency situation in Ekibastuz, over 300 volunteers organized points for receiving and sorting humanitarian aid.

One of the most striking examples of the development of volunteering and charity in the country is the assistance provided to Turkey. The National Volunteer Network, under the coordination of the Ministry, carried out work to collect humanitarian aid. As a result, more than 500 tons of humanitarian aid and 150 yurts were sent to Turkey. Kazakhstanis donated more than 10 million US dollars to the AFAD fund.

Volunteers also took part in emergency situations in the Abay region.

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