UNICEF Brings Together Youth in the Turkestan Region to Promote Volunteerism and Leadership
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TURKESTAN, 26 March 2026 – Today, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held a large-scale youth engagement session in the Turkestan region. The event took place within the framework of the UNICEF national volunteer programme and brought together 150 young people aged 16 to 35.
The session’s main objective was to inform young people about volunteer opportunities, support leadership skills development, and inspire active community participation to improve the local quality of life.
Participants learned how social initiatives contribute to personal development and career growth in an interactive format. The programme covered the following topics:
- opportunities to participate in global and local UNICEF volunteer initiatives;
- skills gained through volunteering – including leadership, project thinking, and effective communication;
- young people’s real contribution to their cities and villages’ sustainable development.
“Volunteering is not only an opportunity to help those in need but also a powerful tool for self-development. UNICEF believes that young people in the Turkestan region have great potential, and our role is to provide them with knowledge and a platform to bring their ideas to life,”
said Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan.
Danara Saranova – the Volunteer Program Coordinator for the southern region – as well as active members of UNICEF Youth Councils from Shymkent and Turkestan delivered motivational speeches and presentations. They shared personal experiences and highlighted implemented projects.
A key part of the day was a working meeting between the UNICEF delegation and representatives of the Youth Policy Department of the Turkestan Region Akimat. The parties discussed further cooperation and launching joint initiatives in child rights protection, youth policy, and volunteerism in the region.
The UNICEF Representative Office in Kazakhstan supported and implemented the event to promote the International Year of Volunteering.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.
For more information, visit www.unicef.org.
