It is well known that, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, the year 2026 has been declared the “International Year of Volunteers” at the global level, and the United Nations has adopted a special resolution supporting the proposal of the Head of State. This decision has clearly highlighted Kazakhstan’s active stance in developing the volunteer movement. In this regard, Abai University will host the “Decade of Kindness” under the slogan “The Energy of Kindness Is an Eternal Trend!”. This social project, scheduled to take place from February 16 to 27, aims to engage university students and faculty members in volunteer activities.

Within the framework of the decade, students will participate in various initiatives in social, environmental, and medical fields, provide assistance during emergency situations, and take part in animal welfare volunteering. The main goal of the project is to promote volunteering as a key factor of sustainable development, strengthen social ties, and provide tangible support to vulnerable groups of the population. During the campaign, charitable assistance will be organized for World War II veterans and lonely elderly people, orphans facing difficult life circumstances, children with hearing impairments, people with disabilities affecting the musculoskeletal system, as well as animals in shelters and overwintering birds. This initiative will make it possible to demonstrate kindness and compassion through concrete actions.

As part of the program, several important social projects will also be implemented. These include the opening ceremony of the “Marathon of Good Deeds” and a charity fair, as well as a waste paper collection drive within the environmental challenge “Paperlife: Give Paper a New Life!”. In addition, the “Basket of Kindness” campaign will deliver food supplies to veterans, while the “Kind Shelter” project will collect essential items for animal shelters. A social and therapeutic chess tournament will be held for people with disabilities, along with a charity birthday celebration for children. The decade’s program will also be enriched by eco-game lessons focused on caring for birds, the “Taza Kazakhstan” environmental campaign, the theatrical performance “Kind Fairy Tales,” and a volunteer hackathon in Kahoot format dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Decade of Kindness will conclude on February 27 with a scientific and practical conference and an award ceremony honoring the most active participants. The event is jointly organized by Abai University, the UNESCO Chair of KazNPU, the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, the Department of Social and Youth Policy, and the “Meirim” Volunteer Club.

The “Decade of Kindness” is an important initiative aimed at increasing young people’s civic responsibility through compassion and practical assistance to society. The project seeks to turn volunteering into a way of life and to widely promote the energy of kindness within the community. After all, kindness is an eternal value, and volunteering is its practical manifestation.

«Abai University» Media Center