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The three-stage Volunteer Initiatives Accelerator has been successfully completed at the Faculty of International Relations of al-Farabi KazNU. The Accelerator was organized by the National Volunteer Network of Kazakhstan and the Academic regional resource center for information support about the UN at the Faculty of International Relations of al-Farabi KazNU, with the support of the UN Volunteers (UNV) Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

The primary objective of the Accelerator was to engage students in designing volunteer initiatives based on the principles of volunteerism that could later be implemented with the support of volunteer organizations across Kazakhstan. Over the course of several weeks, participants developed their own projects aimed at addressing pressing regional challenges, strengthened their project management, teamwork, and public speaking skills, and received expert guidance from representatives of partner organizations.

As part of the Accelerator, a panel discussion dedicated to the role of volunteerism in achieving sustainable development was also held. Representatives of Coca-Cola İçecek Kazakhstan, Kaz Youth Diplomacy, and DOS Community discussed the opportunities and challenges of youth participation in volunteer initiatives, as well as the importance of volunteerism in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kazakhstan and around the world.

The Accelerator demonstrated the tremendous potential of young people in developing innovative solutions and reaffirmed the important role of universities as centers for educating future leaders and active citizens.

Special recognition should be given to Aiman Nakispekova from the National Volunteer Network of Kazakhstan, Mariya Romanova and Nikita Shabayev from the UNV Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, as well as Gulnara Baikushikova, Head of the Department of International Relations and World Economy, and Ailuna Utegenova Assistant Professor for initiating and launching this project. Their efforts enabled 26 students of the Faculty of International Relations to develop and present their own initiatives contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within the framework of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026.

The event was organized by the Academic regional resource center for information support about the UN at the Faculty of International Relations of al-Farabi KazNU. The responsible organizer was Leila Fedorovna Delovarova, +7 701 365 88 08.