The events include charitable campaigns, concerts, exhibitions and trips to Uzbek historical cities. The festivities will culminate in “In the Name of Childhood” charitable ball in the Japanese Garden in Tashkent and an International Calisthenics Tournament “Baby”.

The string of events has kicked off with visits by Women’s Council workers to orphanages on May 24 and 25 to provide orphans with presents. Over 1,000 children in mercy homes have benefitted from the charity visits.

The charitable route went through boarding schools No 98, 100, 4, orphanages No 30 and 31, and Children’s Bone Tuberculosis Clinic, where Uzbek pop stars such as Raikhon, Sardor, Oybek and Nigora performed for the children, and social workers gave them presents. Another 240 presents were given to the Hospital of Infectious Disease No 4, the Society for hearing impaired people, and “Talking Hands” charitable foundation.

Hudaiberdy Gafurov, boarding school No 98, first-grader, said: “I want to say a big thank you for this amazing holiday. My dream was to see singer Sardor Rakhimhom sing here at our school and my dream has come true!”

Hadicha Erkinova, boarding school No 98, fourth-grader: “I want to thank all those who organized this charitable event to give us warmth and care, and I’m saying this on behalf of my classmates. We promise that we will work hard to achieve good results.”

The Program to Support Mercy Homes was launched by the Women’s Council in 2007. Over 3,000 children in mercy homes throughout the country have been given clothes, shoe wear and school belongings since the launch of the program. The proceeds from the charitable ball held last year went toward organization of events honoring the International Child Protection Day while the bulk of the takings was allocated for children in the Specialized Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders and “Talking Hands” charitable foundation set up to cater for children with speech and hearing defects.

Hilola Arzimatova, housewife: “My son has been taking treatment at Children’s Bone Tuberculosis Clinic for ten days. When he learned that pop singers were coming to sing for the patients at the clinic, he was very happy and stared feeling better. I started crying when I saw how happy my son was. Many many thanks to the organizers of this wonderful charitable act.”

Also, 203 boxes Nestle baby food, 53 boxes of Nectogen baby food, 6 boxes of toothpaste, 100 boxes of crackers, 10 boxes of soap, 55 boxes of Libero diapers were given to children living in mercy homes in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Tashkent, Samarkand, Ferghana, Samarkand, Andijan, Kashkadarya and Bukhara regions.

The project, a brainchild of Gulnara Karimova, is aimed at discovering and supporting children’s creative potential and raising funds for the development of social and charitable projects to support mothers and children. Now in its fourth year, the charitable ball will be held in the Japanese Garden. The ball will offer thematic entertainment stations such as “Hipsters”, “Disco dancer”, “I can sing”, and “I’m a photo model”, and a charitable auction will be held.