What is the richness of a nation? – Its people.
It couldn’t be truer for Kazakhstan where this saying resonates loud and clear.
People the world over volunteer to give back to society. The one billion and counting volunteers work to commit their time and skills to making people’s lives better.
Kazakhstan has evolved into a vibrant society since its independence almost three decades ago. Volunteerism is increasingly taking front stage – with people more aware and interested in pitching in for social and community work. And there is huge potential of coordinating volunteerism for development in Kazakhstan.
Volunteerism is not new to Kazakh society. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and Kazakhstan have partnered since 1993 to make sustainable development a reality.
UNV has almost 7,000 volunteers around the world on the ground and almost 13,000 online volunteers serving with UN agencies, governments, private sector and civil society. UN Volunteers often work directly with vulnerable groups at the grassroots level.
There are 22 UN Volunteers serving in Kazakhstan and around the world in peace and development initiatives. From capacity building to gender equality, from advocacy of sustainable cities to climate action, UN Volunteers work along with local communities.
Kazakh UN Volunteers are working in Kyzylorda region to implement sustainable waste management and reduce inequalities for persons with disabilities. And they also create awareness of low carbon consumption and reduction of emissions especially among the youth in the southern town of Taraz.
Acutely aware of the local surge in volunteering, UNV commends the Government’s initiative to mainstream volunteerism through a regulated Law on Volunteering Activity. The new law signed this year allows further opportunities for academia to involve youth in high profile events.
Likewise, embedding more Kazakh UN Volunteers to serve in developing countries and enhance development impact will further strengthen the country’s footprint in international development cooperation. Presently 22 Kazakh UN Volunteers serve in Malawi, Mozambique, Ukraine and their home country.
At the Expo 2017 – Future Energy in June there will be a large-scale mobilization of some three thousand volunteers. UN Volunteers will provide expertise in coordinating the university volunteers.
United Nations Volunteers applauds the many women and men of Kazakhstan.
The people are the real wealth of Kazakhstan creating a culture of selfless giving, of volunteerism.
The author is Deputy Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme.
