In Kazakhstan there is a word “asar”. It’s about a simple thing: if someone needs help, people get together and help. No formalities or contracts – they just came and did it.
The times in which we live increasingly demand exactly this – to respond, to act, to help. Therefore, today this good tradition sounds in a new way.
In the 21st century, the spirit of asar has not disappeared anywhere. Rather, it has become different – wider and more noticeable.
In recent years, in the country and, in general, in Central Asia, volunteering has received targeted development. First there was the Year of Volunteers in Kazakhstan in 2020, then the Year of Volunteerism in the CIS in 2024. Now, largely thanks to the initiative of Kazakhstan, momentum is growing for 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers under the auspices of the UN.
The view of volunteering is changing
But it’s not just about international initiatives and information campaigns. We see how the very view of volunteering is gradually changing in Kazakhstan and in the region.
It is no longer perceived as a hobby and is seen as an important contribution to solving specific problems – in education, ecology, healthcare, search and rescue work. Government agencies, local authorities and volunteers are increasingly working together rather than separately.
Against this background, the rules are also changing: the new Constitution of Kazakhstan directly speaks of supporting volunteerism. As a result, the very understanding changes: volunteer activity is not an addition, but a condition; not a seasoning, but one of the key ingredients.
And Kazakhstan is not alone in this. In many countries, volunteering is now being rediscovered as a practical way to cope with sustainability challenges that are becoming more complex and changing faster than before.
At the same time, the usual forms of participation do not disappear: people still come out to clean up areas and plant trees. This remains the basis. But new opportunities are emerging nearby. Online volunteering, for example, allows you to help, share experiences and work together, even while on different continents.
Volunteering is developing, preserving the tradition of mutual assistance
This is especially noticeable in Central Asia. The UN Volunteers (UNV) 2024 Survey shows that volunteering in the region is growing while maintaining its core tradition of mutual aid. The state, business and civil society are gradually learning to act more coherently, and the contribution of volunteers is becoming more noticeable – in the environment, social sphere, and in working in emergency situations.
Of course, the role of the UN is also changing. Through UNV, we attract volunteers – with different experiences, skills, and increasingly with digital competencies – and try to make their participation more accessible and effective. And through UNDP, we work with governments to ensure that volunteering is built into development, climate and environmental strategies – not as one-time assistance, but systematically.
And yet, something is missing
Volunteers do a lot. They reduce risks, help people, and protect the environment. This can be seen in life – around us. But it is not always visible in systems, in accounting, in budgets. Volunteers are valued, but not always supported.
This is exactly what the UNV report “The State of Volunteering in the World 2026” says. It is important not only to know how much time and resources are invested in volunteering, but also to understand how it affects society: it makes it more sustainable, strengthens connections between people, and helps to cope with challenges.
This is especially important for Central Asia. The tradition of solidarity is strong here. But for them to resonate in full force in the 21st century, they need support – recognition, data and investment. Volunteers need not only motivation, but also conditions and training. Systems – coordination. And the contribution of volunteers to sustainable development must be taken into account when making decisions.
This applies not only to national, but also regional tasks – for example, in the Aral Sea region. Environmental problems know no borders, and solutions cannot be limited by them. If regional environmental volunteering receives support from Central Asian countries, it can work for the long term.
Then volunteering ceases to be just goodwill. It becomes part of how countries cope with the future.
Therefore, 2026 is not just a date. This is an opportunity to take the next step.
To help was not the exception, but the norm.
So that people’s participation becomes the rule.
So that volunteering becomes what it already, in essence, is – a development resource.
Time to help. And it’s important not to miss it.
