On 21 December 2023 in Astana, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay met with the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva. The primary focus of the meeting was the upcoming CICA Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders scheduled to take place under the auspices of CICA Youth Council in May 2024, as well as other key issues.
The Secretary General congratulated the Ministry on the support received for Kazakhstan's initiative, leading to the United Nations General Assembly adopting a resolution proclaiming 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.
Ambassador Kairat Sarybay informed that the CICA Ministerial Council adopted a Statement on Promoting Volunteering for Sustainable Development on 21 September 2023 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly high-level week in New York. This document gives powerful political impetus to a completely new direction of CICA activities to support and encourage the active involvement of citizens in volunteer activities, which has been a key area of focus of the Secretariat’s recent initiatives.
Minister Balayeva assured full support and dedication from the Ministry to conduct the CICA Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders, an event initiated by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 6th CICA Summit in October 2022, on the highest level.
Parties discussed conceptual and organizational issues of the Rally and agreed to continue the cooperation between the Secretariat and the Ministry.
The Secretary General also invited representatives of the Ministry to take part in the CICA panel session: “Development of volunteerism in CICA countries” at the World Youth Festival in Russia, Sochi in March 2024 to further promote the Volunteer Rally in Astana.
Media contact:
Akbota Batyrkhan
Public Relations Officer
Email: a.batyrkhan@s-cica.org
Phone number: +7 (777) 036-26-58
