International Volunteers Year: UN Representative Meets with Activists at MNU

The Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers Programme, Toli Kurbanov, met with representatives of volunteer organisations and youth activists at Maqsut Narikbayev University. The meeting focused on the role of volunteerism in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and preparations for the International Year of Volunteers.

During the session at MNU, participants discussed a roadmap of key events to be implemented in Kazakhstan, as well as strategies for localising global initiatives of the UN Volunteers Programme. Particular emphasis was placed on youth engagement and the sustainability of volunteer practices. Maksat Musabekov, Vice Provost for Student Affairs at MNU, highlighted the importance of a systematic approach to cultivating students’ civic responsibility.

“Our university offers a compulsory CSI course – Creativity, Service, Intelligence. One of its core components is volunteering. From their first to fourth year, students actively contribute to socially significant initiatives. This fosters an active lifestyle and a sense of personal investment in societal change. Through volunteering, the university not only nurtures students’ personal development but also contributes to the broader social progress of the country,” stated Maksat Musabekov.

It is worth noting that, following the initiative of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Kazakhstan has become the first country in the world to establish a National Organising Committee. Furthermore, a Sub-regional Office of the UN Volunteers Movement in Central Asia will be opened in Almaty.