Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye advance volunteer movement

An international forum under the theme The Contribution of Women Volunteers to the Development of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan.

According to Report, the event was organized by the Baku International Women's Club and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan.

The forum brought together prominent public figures, women entrepreneurs, representatives of government agencies, NGOs, and the diplomatic corps.

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Alim Bayel, emphasized that the forum was dedicated to Azerbaijan's Independence Day and the Year of Volunteers. He noted that 2026 was declared the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development by the UN, following the initiative of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Bayel also highlighted that modern volunteerism in Kazakhstan stems from the traditional practice of mutual aid known as "Asar."

Hijran Huseynova, Chair of the Committee on Family, Women, and Children of Azerbaijan's Parliament, spoke about the history of women's activism in Azerbaijan and current support measures. Mexico's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Maria Victoria Romero Caballero, expressed support for initiatives promoting women's volunteerism in the represented countries.

Zöhre Akgün, spouse of Türkiye's Ambassador to Azerbaijan and a pediatrician, delivered a presentation on the importance of early diagnosis of autism in children and the need to create inclusive educational environments, sharing Türkiye's experience in this field.

Speakers from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Moldova, and the United States presented on the role of women volunteers in modern society.

Asemgul Bayel, President of International Women's Club of Baku (IWC Baku); Saltanat Bassygarayeva, Director of Astana Akimat's Services and Tourism College; and Elvira Esmukhanova, Head of the Volunteer Development Department at the Astana Zhastary Youth Resource Center, shared Kazakhstan's volunteerism experience and achievements.

Aytan Shirinova, founder and president of Sky Line Partners, and Yeşim Tüzün Yüksel, Chair of the Çeşme Agro-Cultural Development Cooperative, discussed perspectives, challenges, and strategic directions for women's volunteerism.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants agreed to cooperate on promoting women's civic initiatives and implementing joint projects across the Turkic world.

The event also featured performances by Azerbaijan's honored artists Fargana Gasimova, Gulyanag and Gulyaz Mammadova, as well as children with developmental differences.

The IWC Baku, a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1994, has organized numerous cultural, charitable, and educational events over its 32 years of activity, the latest being the Spring Charity Fair held in Baku in April 2026.