Baku, August 22, AZERTAC
The delegation of the Union of Volunteer Organizations of Azerbaijan (UVOA) participated in the First Volunteer Forum of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The forum, themed “Unity Through Volunteering: Partnership, Trust, Development,” was organized to mark the 2026 International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, and the 35th anniversary of the CIS. The Azerbaijani delegation attended the forum with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan.
The event aimed to strengthen international cooperation in volunteering across the CIS, facilitate the exchange of best practices among member states, and promote joint volunteer initiatives.
During the forum’s opening ceremony, Aida Balayeva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, read out a message from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the participants.
The two-day event featured panel sessions, discussions, and presentations showcasing successful volunteering practices. Participants discussed issues related to the environment, social and inclusive support, promoting youth volunteering, corporate volunteering and social responsibility, and international cooperation.
Vugar Aliyev, UVOA Chairman, delivered a speech at the forum’s “Corporate Volunteering and Social Responsibility” panel, highlighting Azerbaijan’s volunteering model, its achievements, and the role of volunteering in international cooperation and sustainable development.
At the closing ceremony, he emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and experience-sharing among CIS countries in advancing joint volunteering initiatives.
Fidan Shamiyeva, UVOA’s International Projects Coordinator, participated in the “Volunteering Without Borders: How Volunteering Is Changing Society” panel session, where she highlighted the Union’s key areas of activity, ongoing projects, and initiatives implemented through international cooperation.
The forum brought together representatives of government institutions and volunteer organizations, as well as active volunteers, from Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Overall, the event was attended by nearly 300 participants.
Source: azertag.az
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