20-05-2010  FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

At 10 am in a large concert hall of the Kazakh National Conservatory after name of Kurmangazy the First International Scientific Conference “Philanthropy in Kazakhstan” took place. This conference is organized by charity foundations “AYALA” and “Baurzhan”. Conference participants were warmly welcomed by deputy mayor Serik Seydumanov, executive director of the First President Foundation Bektas Mukhamedzhanov. After that the plenary session of the conference at which presentations were made by Maria Chertok – President of the foundation «CAF Russia (Moscow), Vyacheslav Bakhmin - consultant of Motta foundation in the Russian Federation (Moscow), Tyufekchi-Ogly Hayati doctor of sociology, professor, director of the Eurasian institute of Istanbul university (Istanbul), Zamira Kanapyanova - head of regional office of “Chevron” corporation in Kazakhstan and others.

After the lunch break began meeting in the sections: “Charity in Kazakhstan as a social institution: the history and development” “State and charity” “The role of media in the development of philanthropy” “Business and philanthropy”

The reports in sections provoked strong reactions and intense discussion. In the section “Business and charity” it was agreed that a working group of representatives from major national companies and nonprofit organizations will prepare amendments to the tax code which would stimulate business to donate. These amendments will allow potential sponsors without “interference” to be engaged in charity activities. The second working group will look at refining the concept of the “Association of Charity Organizations” of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In the section “Role of media in the development of charity” there was a lot of interesting opinions about what is the media`s role in the development of charity and it can not be overemphasized. It was requested to prepare the memorandum between the charity organizations and mass media for newspaper space and television air time for posting materials on the activities of nonprofit organizations.

In the section “Charity in Kazakhstan” as a social institution: the history and development - reports have been devoted to the creation of a theoretical framework of the NGOs. Polemics and this section has been very active. As a result of the conference will be published reports and articles of participants. The success of the first international conference on Philanthropy in Kazakhstan we can say with confidence that this conference will become an annual event.