A Volunteers Forum marking the official opening of the International Year of Volunteers was held in Astana

This global initiative was proposed by the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly and received broad support from the international community.

The event brought together representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, volunteer associations, and civil society.

During the forum, the special role of the volunteer movement in national development, strengthening social cohesion, and fostering a culture of civic responsibility was highlighted. It was also emphasized that volunteering is a key resource for sustainable development amid increasing social and humanitarian challenges.

It should be noted that in 2026, by order of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Center for Support of Civil Initiatives is implementing six projects aimed at developing volunteering in the following areas:

• Emergency response;
• Environmental protection and eco-volunteering;
• Volunteer support in healthcare;
• Development of cultural and event volunteering;
• Support for socially vulnerable groups;
• Animal welfare volunteering.

Within these projects, small grants are provided to support volunteer initiatives, along with educational and coordination activities aimed at enhancing volunteers’ competencies and developing sustainable regional volunteer communities.

The implementation of these projects will expand the scale of the volunteer movement, strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation, and create additional opportunities for citizen engagement in socially significant activities.

The International Year of Volunteers will serve as a platform for launching new initiatives, sharing best practices, and further advancing volunteering in Kazakhstan.