Kazakhstan Hosts CICA Youth Council for Sustainable Development through Volunteering
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Youth Council recently held a two-day meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, focusing on the crucial role of volunteers in promoting sustainable development across Asia. The event gathered leaders of the volunteer movement to discuss various topics, including volunteerism in emergency situations, environmental challenges, and the impact of volunteers on healthcare.
State Counselor of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin highlighted the importance of supporting the volunteer movement in the country, emphasizing President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s commitment to advancing social justice and unity through volunteer activities. Karin praised the significant contributions of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters and mentioned Kazakhstan’s environmental initiative, Taza Kazakhstan (Clean Kazakhstan), as a successful example of volunteerism promoting environmental awareness.
Kazakhstan’s initiative to declare 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, proposed by President Tokayev at the UN General Assembly in 2020, aims to enhance volunteer movements globally and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay echoed these sentiments, highlighting the integration of volunteerism into the human dimension of CICA’s confidence-building measures and plans for collaboration with the UN on educational programs and volunteer training.
In an interview with The Astana Times, Tapiwa Kamuruko from the United Nations Volunteers program outlined plans for the International Year of Volunteers, emphasizing the vital role volunteers play in disaster response and SDG achievement. Kamuruko discussed the development of the Volunteer Index to measure volunteers’ impact on the SDGs and presented the first review on the state of volunteering in Central Asia during the event.
The meeting brought together 450 delegates from 21 countries, showcasing the value of volunteer contributions and best practices in Central Asia’s volunteer movement. The discussions underscored the essential role of volunteers in creating a fair and prosperous world and the need for international cooperation to strengthen volunteerism globally.
