Murat Altair spoke at the UNESCO Global Youth Forum in Almaty

Almaty hosted the first Global Youth Forum of UNESCO Associations and Clubs, which gathered more than 150 participants from 60 countries. Among the speakers was Altair Murat, a 12th grade student from NIS Kokshetau. For two days, the participants - representatives of UNESCO Associations, experts, politicians and scientists - discussed youth skills development, ethical use of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, sustainable tourism, climate change, inclusiveness and the role of art in education. The forum focused on the development of the UNESCO Movement Development Plan 2025-2030. Altair spoke about his involvement in UNESCO projects and inspired other participants to promote similar initiatives in their countries. He also presented the culture of Kazakhstan, sharing stories about shymbulak, kok-tob, national cuisine and traditions. "I liked the forum because there is no age limit. Anyone can speak and be sure that they will be heard. For example, the Vice President of the Director General of UNESCO in France came up to us just for a small talk. I am glad that I was able to inspire someone with my path in the UNESCO movement," Altair said.

He was particularly impressed by meeting a participant from Japan. During the forum, she kept writing down all her speeches in a notebook. When asked why, the girl replied, "Why don't you take notes?" In her culture, students and adults take notes to help them remember information. This practice is useful and could become part of the educational process, Altair said.

Bolat Akchulakov, President of the World and Kazakhstan Federations of UNESCO Clubs and Associations, said the forum was an important platform for sharing experiences. He stressed that youth participation, cooperation and dialogue between representatives of different cultures and generations pave the way for meaningful and effective change.