Opinions

From Tradition to Transformation: Rethinking Volunteering in Central Asia

By Haoliang Xu, Toily Kurbanov on 16 April 2026

There is a word in Kazakhstan—Asar. It describes a simple but powerful idea: when someone is in need, the community comes together to help. No contracts, no formalities, just people showing up for one another. That spirit has not disappeared. If anything, it has strengthened. Over the past few...