Children’s Day was celebrated in Kazakhstan on June 1 and around 500 events for more than 3 million children were held around the country over the weekend, reported the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education and Science.
The holiday programme included activities and competitions, concerts and festivals for children and teenagers. School No. 32 in Astana organised a streetball tournament for its seventh- and eighth-grade students under the motto “Young athletes – pride of the country.”
Young theatre-goers in the capital could enjoy different spectacles, including interpretations of fairy tales such as “The Cat Leopold’s Birthday,” “Magic Words” and the comedy, “The Chioggia Scuffles,” at the Maxim Gorky Russian Drama Theatre.
In the capital, 130 children from low-income families received social assistance through The Happy Child Programme. The Dar and KZ social funds, supported by KazTransGas Joint Stock Company and the Astana Educational Administration Office, were actively involved in the programme’s realisation.
“It is very important to carry out such social projects, as children from low-income families desperately need our support and help,” said a representative of the Educational Administration Office.
These children also attended a circus performance and visited the aquarium and the Atameken Museum complex.
The Tan Sholpan National Children’s Music Festival and the Zhuldizai National Children’s Art Festival for 150 orphans and 300 disabled children were organised as part of the celebrations.
Young deputies of the youth maslikhat (city administration) led a flash mob called “Mama, I am waiting for you!” on the Yessil River quay. Flash mob participants carried pictures of little orphans while parading along the river. The organisers believe this action will trigger people’s willingness to grant a little love and care to these children.
“The number of orphans has dropped by 40 percent in comparison with 2000. We have to support this positive tendency and persuade people to adopt children. I hope one day there will be no orphans in Astana, as they all find new homes,” explained Akerke Zhumanbayeva, secretary of the youth maslikhat.
A family festival also took place in Astana in the Arai park. This festival has become a tradition for Almaty residents and this year it finally reached the capital. Master classes, workshops and games offered by Astana EXPO 2017 Company organisers, as well as an evening concert, attracted many Astana locals and guests.
“It is not only entertainment. During this festival, the children were told about how a solar power plant works, what kind of alternative energy sources the world knows and what the ecolab and robotics industries are,” said Director of Communication and Marketing of the Astana EXPO 2017 Company Assel Kozhakova.
Free public transport was organised for children in Astana, Almaty, Atyrau, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Taraz, Karaganda and Pavlodar.
