On 3 and 4 October 2024, the Republic of Kazakhstan, under the auspices of the Youth Council of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), hosted the CICA Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders. Proposed by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the Sixth CICA Summit in October 2022, the event brought together over 450 delegates from among the leaders of volunteer organizations and active volunteers. Diplomats and senior officials in charge of volunteering and youth policy from 21 CICA Member States also attended the Rally.
On the first day of the Rally, the Seventh CICA Youth Council Meeting was held on the topic “The Importance of Volunteerism in Society: Discussion on the Role of Volunteerism in Promoting Sustainable Development in Asia”, which resulted in the approval of a set of recommendations for promoting volunteerism within CICA. Panel sessions were also organized to discuss the role of volunteerism in healthcare, addressing environmental challenges, responding to emergencies and promoting social and inclusive volunteerism.
The second day of the meeting continued with a plenary session attended by State Counsellor of the Republic of Kazakhstan E.Karin, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan A. Balayeva and CICA Secretary General Ambassador K. Sarybay. Moreover, an extended discussion was held on the topic “Global Unity: the Role of Volunteers in the International Arena.”
As part of the Rally, a volunteer eco-action was organized to plant the Alley of the Youth of Asia. In addition, cultural events included excursions to Astana's landmarks and a visit to the “Bakhchisaray Fountain” theatre production at the Astana Opera.
The Rally has become an important platform for developing intercultural understanding, establishing people-to-people contacts and building confidence among CICA countries. The main objectives of the event included uniting efforts in the field of volunteerism and promoting peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Participants were provided with a platform to share knowledge, experience and best practices in the field of volunteering. Training and workshops were organized providing an opportunity to share experiences and create networks of future cooperation.
