ALMATY (TCA) — The first UNV Central Asia Regional Training “Leveraging Volunteerism in Sustainable Development” which was organized by the UN Volunteers Programme was held in Kazakhstan last week.
“Today the UN system is going through the reform process on the global level. One of the most important components of this reform is the identification of the place and UN support for countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In other words, the future UN system will use its unique resources and position to promote sustainable development around the world. Therefore, our first regional training becomes very relevant both from the point of raising awareness and piloting sustainable development initiatives, as well as the prospects for professional development in the new UN system,” said Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Kazakhstan Deputy Resident Representative.
“The experience exchange is becoming one of the most important issues for the development volunteers in the Central Asian countries and its entry to the international level. Such trainings are not only an excellent communication platform, but they also help in understanding and advocating for Sustainable Development Goals,” said Dmitry Frischin, UNV Programme Specialist / Coordinator for Central Asia.
The regional training was aimed at developing capacities of UN Volunteers, building strategic partnerships, equipping UN Volunteers with advanced tools, methods and best shared practices for advocacy of volunteerism within SDGs. The participants of the training engaged in case studies and learnt new practices in the spheres of mobilization of necessary resources to promote volunteering in the context of sustainable development.
“Today, it is extremely important to direct volunteering activities and to explain that volunteering is not only very popular, but it is also a certain type of “social elevator” that allows a person to grow personally and professionally,” said Ms. Vera Kim, Chairperson of the National Volunteer Network in Kazakhstan.
The invited guests included UNDP experts Alexander Beliy and Firuz Ibrohimov, Vera Kim, the CEO of the National Volunteers Network in Kazakhstan and Akbota Kenes, an expert of the Ministry on Religious Affairs and Civil Society. Forty five UN Volunteers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan met at the regional training, including International volunteers from South Korea, Japan, Finland, and Tajikistan.
UN Volunteers Programme was established in 1970 by all UN participating countries. Since its establishment the programme coordinated volunteers, who managed to work in more than 140 countries around the world. In Kazakhstan, the UN Volunteers Program has been operating since 1993. Up to date, there are 35 National Volunteers and four Kazakhstani international volunteers, working abroad.
