Zhas Otan - History

History

The youth wing of Nur Otan People’s Democratic Party acted without forming a legal body until 2008. At a meeting of Political Council of the Otan Republican Political Party which was held November 25, 2006, Bakytzhan Zhumagulov in his report noted there had been no single meeting of the Republican Council of the Zhas Otan youth wing during 1.5 years, and its leaders had organized only one-time events which was not connected with others. Political Council of Otan, central office, all branches and representatives was given a task to intensify work with young people and provide a program of action in this direction urgently.

On January 17, 2008, at an enlarged meeting of Political Council of Nur Otan President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to hold congress of Zhas Otan youth wing of Nur Otan People’s Democratic Party in spring.

On May 14, 2008, I Congress of Zhas Otan youth wing of Nur Otan was held in Astana with participation of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. In a process of preparation to the I Congress of Zhas Otan, Nur Otan party initiated parliamentary hearings on the discussion of the Law on State Youth Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, youth conferences were organized in all regions of the country to approve a list of 310 delegates to the Congress.

The congress was also attended by leaders of youth organizations from Kazakhstan, members of the party and the Bureau of Political Council, heads of the Administration of President of Kazakhstan, and deputies of the Parliament, representatives of government, the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan, mass-media, and young guests from foreign countries. The I Congress of Delegates adopted the statutes of a public association and action strategy for 2008–2011, the executive secretary of the organization was selected Nurlan Uteshev.

In his speech at the Congress the president N. Nazarbayev assigned immediate tasks to the organization to create all necessary conditions under which every young citizen of Kazakhstan would be able to realize a potential, become self-sufficient and competitive personality, and also noted the role of established organization in the state youth policy.

• I Congress of Zhas Otan

• Central Council of Zhas Otan.

• Delegates of the Congress.

• Honourable guest Nursultan Nazarbayev.

In January 2009, Zhas Otan presented project “Black Label”. According to the project Zhas Otan declared that it would review complaints and appeals from citizens received in the public reception room of Nur Otan in 2008 and first half of 2009. After monitoring Zhas Otan intended to identify state authorities, on whose wrongful acts the most complaints had been received, and to set mark “Black Label” at the front gate of a state body, the corruption in which had been more developed according to complains of citizens.

To execute assignment of the President of Kazakhstan to organize all-Kazakhstan marathon to support of needy students, which was announced on February 12, 2009 at enlarged meeting of the Bureau of Political Council of the Nur Otan, Zhas Otan and the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna concluded a memorandum of understanding for providing educational grants for students. Also Zhas Otan conducted all-Kazakhstan TV marathon “Energy of the youth to the Fatherland, a noble heart to the youth” to support students.

In April 2010 Zhas Otan held an action ”Tarbagatay grief – grief of whole Kazakhstan” to collect clothes and food for flood victims in Tarbagatay rayon of East Kazakhstan region. On April 2 Karaganda branch of Zhas Otan was the first among other branches to send humanitarian aid (one KAMAZ vehicle with food and a Gazelle with the necessary clothing).

In April – May 2010 in the framework of republican campaign “We are Kazakhstani people! Kazakhstan is our common home”, the youth wing held a photo exhibition "There are 140 me in the word we” dedicated to inter-ethnic harmony.

On June 16, 2010 in the framework of republican campaign “Life without drugs”, in all oblasts of Kazakhstan and the cities of Astana and Almaty various activities (sports, pickets, rallies, and other outreach activities) were held to propagandize fighting against drug addiction.