Youth serve as the impetus for Kazakhstan's development, as per Toqaev's statement.
In a series of significant moves, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized the importance of supporting and developing the youth in Kazakhstan. This year, Kazakhstan has been declared the Year of Labor Professions, recognising the vital role young people play in shaping the nation's future.
During the Jastar Fest forum in Pavlodar, dedicated to International Youth Day, President Tokayev sent a congratulatory message, acknowledging the incredible power youth hold for change. He believes in the potential of Kazakhstan's youth and wishes them success in all their endeavors.
Pavlodar, a region known for its significant contributions to Kazakhstan's spiritual world and economic development, is hosting the forum. The words of the great thinker Abai, "Believe in yourself, and your happiness lies in the unity of reason and labor," still resonate today in Kazakhstan.
President Tokayev has highlighted several key initiatives and programs to support and develop youth in Kazakhstan. These include:
- Youth Resource Centers and Councils: With 234 youth resource centers serving over 500,000 young people annually, these centres provide consultations, training, and grant access, while youth councils involve young people in decision-making processes.
- Employment and Career Support: Programs like the “Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve,” “With a Diploma to the Village,” “Youth Practice,” and “First Job” offer employment opportunities and social guarantees, helping to reduce the NEET rate among youth.
- Youth Quotas in Government: A 30% quota for youth and women in parliament and local government bodies reinforces youth participation in governance and policy-making.
- Housing Support: Preferential mortgage programs like “Nauryz” and “Otau” have helped over 19,000 young people buy homes since 2020, with additional regional support such as rent subsidies in major cities.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Youth are actively engaged in various sectors, including IT, green energy, creative industries, and agrotechnology. Programs like “Digital Kazakhstan” and “QazInnovate” support startups and fund youth projects annually.
- Volunteerism and Civic Engagement: Efforts such as UNICEF’s Volunteer Hub in Kokshetau train young volunteers in children's rights, social projects, and health, fostering active civic participation and leadership among youth.
- Educational Scholarships: The government’s state scholarship program awards grants to thousands of young people for studying at top Kazakhstani universities, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s position as an educational hub in Central Asia.
These programs collectively focus on youth empowerment, skill development, economic opportunity, social responsibility, and active participation in national progress. The introduction of direct elections for akims of villages and districts has opened up many opportunities for young people in local executive bodies.
The state will continue its strategically important work in supporting the youth of Kazakhstan, creating appropriate conditions for the youth to learn, work, and develop comprehensively. The residents of Pavlodar, one of the largest industrial centers in Kazakhstan, ensure the prosperity of the state through their dedicated work in enterprises, agriculture, and other sectors.
- President Tokayev's initiatives for Kazakhstan's youth development encompass varying aspects of personal and career growth, such as Youth Resource Centers, employment support programs, and youth quotas in government.
- The emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship through programs like "Digital Kazakhstan" and "QazInnovate" encourages youth participation in sectors like IT, green energy, and creative industries, contributing to policy-and-legislation and general-news discussions.
- In a bid to promote self-development and active civic engagement, volunteering programs like UNICEF’s Volunteer Hub in Kokshetau offer training in children's rights, social projects, and health, fostering leadership and strengthening Kazakhstan's education-and-self-development landscape.
