Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Forum of Volunteers of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held in the capital of Uzbekistan. This is the first such event, which this year is being held under the auspices of the Year of Volunteer Movement in the CIS, reports the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

Volunteers from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other Commonwealth countries arrived in Tashkent. Here they got acquainted with the best practices of the volunteer movement in Uzbekistan, and also discussed the activities of activists during emergencies, work at public events and other areas of activity.

“It is a great honor for us to welcome the first Forum within the framework of this large project - the Year of the Volunteer Movement in the CIS,” First Deputy Director of the Agency for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dilnozakhon Kattakhanova addressed the participants. “I am very pleased that CIS volunteers, with their activity, determination, and initiative, bring a lot of positive changes to our world, to our environment.”

At the Forum, volunteers presented current practices in the country. Activists in Uzbekistan have created a unique application “U-Report”, where young people can leave their opinions on socially important topics.

Students of Tashkent University spoke about the “Legal Clinic” project. It largely repeats the “Service-Learning” direction, which has been introduced into many Russian universities. Students of the “Legal Clinic” provide legal support to all residents of Uzbekistan who need it.

Volunteers of the non-governmental non-profit organization “Solnyshko” pay special attention to the prevention of slavery and exploitation of children in the country.

“We provide information in educational institutions and recreation areas. This problem is now widespread, but not enough is talked about and reported on, human trafficking, child labor exploitation, slavery, sexual exploitation. If someone finds themselves in a difficult life situation, how to get out of it, how not to be afraid to talk about it, where to find help. The only thing that prevents us to this day from completing the matter and stopping human trafficking is that the victims do not talk about the reasons for what happened. They are so intimidated that they are silent,” said volunteer “Solnyshka” Munisa.

Decision to hold the Year of Volunteerism in the CIS was made by the heads of the Commonwealth member states. The plan includes 200 events. According to the organizers, this will help NGOs from different countries exchange best practices and increase the prestige of volunteering.

“It all started in 2018, when the Association of Volunteer Centers (DOBRO.RF) became the coordinator of the working group to develop the Concept of cooperation between the CIS countries in supporting the youth volunteer movement,” said Leila Badalova, head of the Center for International Projects of the AVC. “Our task is to bring people together through concrete deeds, to form a community based on joint activities, so that a positive trace remains in the memory, so that the activity is expressed in a specific result.”

Badalova added that until 19 May, applications are still being accepted for internships for leaders and activists of NGOs from the CIS countries, which will take place in July in Moscow and Khanty-Mansiysk. It is organized by Rossotrudnichestvo, the Association of Volunteer Centers (AVC) and the Dobrino Year-Round Competence Center (Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug).