ASTANA – EXPO 2017 visitors learn not only about future energy opportunities, but also about the inexhaustible human energy. Native of Kokshetau Batima Kussainova, 64, volunteered to participate in the large-scale event.
“When I came to the expo organising committee in February, I was accepted with great pleasure out of the competition and awarded the title of Golden Volunteer. From that time, we have been trained in all nine major exhibition sites. Officially, this is my first experience of volunteering,” Kussainova said.
According to her, the volunteer’s work allows developing communication skills, revealing one’s potential and gaining new experience.
“Throughout the world, the volunteer movement is gaining momentum, including in Kazakhstan, and this is not a youth or student movement. There is no age in volunteering; on the contrary, many things in the work are easier for me. Volunteering is a great experience,” she added.
Kussainova has been working as a volunteer since the opening of the expo. Over this time, she has repeatedly visited all the pavilions and venues of the exhibition.
A few months before the exhibition, she began to study foreign languages. Now the motivated student knows simple word-combinations to communicate with exhibition visitors.
“Communicating with the young guys, I realised that our young people are wonderful. Every day I work with them, I am charged with their enthusiasm and energy. Our children are fluent in several foreign languages, they are technically savvy, benevolent and very capable. I also became an advanced user of social networks; we have our own chat room where we actively discuss many topics. They have become my family,” the volunteer said.
Kussainova says every new day at the exhibition is like a holiday. She is always ready to help where necessary.
“I understand that our citizens perceived the exhibition ambiguously, but with confidence I can say that having come here, seeing the whole planet on one site, people change their minds. The expo site offers necessary conditions for a comfortable stay on the territory of the exhibition,” she said.
Speaking about the secrets of such an optimistic life position, Kussainova insists that the person is the smith of his own happiness and each of us creates his own mood.
“It happens that many people do not receive enough in their family, their surroundings, but this does not mean that they cannot be a leader. We need to change our attitude, not to be afraid, to open up and to be interested in. Every year we do not get younger or healthier, but if you do not move and think about illness, then it will not be better. I do not accept sitting on the bench and seeking pity for my age or myself. While we are alive, we must be energetic, rejoice at every new day,” she believes.
The expo volunteer intends to work on other international venues, also helping people and sharing with them the energy of good and true Kazakh hospitality.
