Thousands of residents in Almaty receive aid from volunteer groups amidst the pandemic crisis
Volunteer Efforts in Almaty During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Almaty saw a surge of volunteer activities, with volunteers playing a crucial role in health education, community support, and social welfare.
The Almaty Akimat established an emergency volunteer headquarters at the Youth Loft Center during the lockdown, with the main activity being to provide assistance to vulnerable population categories. Over 4,115 vulnerable and socially disadvantaged citizens received help from the headquarters, while 80 residents with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection received assistance with medication delivery [3]. Volunteers were also trained in safety protocols and hygiene practices in the context of the coronavirus outbreak and were provided with individual protective equipment for safety.
Public monitoring was conducted in 166 facilities, leading to appropriate measures being taken for facilities functioning beyond restricted activities. Similarly, monitoring was also carried out in 100 pharmacies, resulting in measures taken for unjustified price increases of essential medications [4].
In addition to direct pandemic response support, volunteers were involved in civic education and social support projects related to COVID-19. Online webinars on immunization services for healthcare workers were conducted, and volunteers supported fellow countrymen in international events, demonstrating a culture of assistance extending beyond immediate pandemic needs [1].
The pandemic also spurred state-initiated volunteer movements such as BizBirgemiz, which gained public trust and collected substantial donations intended for pandemic relief and associated events. However, a Kazakh charity fund linked to the BizBirgemiz movement faced allegations of embezzlement, indicating challenges in trust and fund management during the pandemic [5].
Volunteers also assisted city medical workers in accommodating arriving citizens from other countries in hospitals. Over 9,972 food packages were distributed in major supermarkets to residents in need [6].
A functioning website for volunteers in the city, almaty-volunteers.kz, is available, and over 6,250 residents received non-contact informational and explanatory assistance through a hotline (over 100 calls are received daily). Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, a prominent figure, also answered questions from Almaty residents [7].
The diverse roles volunteers played in Almaty during the pandemic are evident, from direct pandemic response support to broader social and humanitarian engagement. However, governance and transparency of volunteer funds remain an important issue, as evidenced by the controversy surrounding a key volunteer foundation [5].
[1] Conducting online immunization webinars for healthcare workers [2] AlmaU volunteers' engagement in global sports events and social projects [3] Providing assistance to vulnerable population categories and medication delivery for residents with asymptomatic COVID-19 infection [4] Public monitoring in facilities and pharmacies [5] Collection and management of donations for pandemic relief, with some controversy over fund use [6] Distribution of food packages in major supermarkets to residents in need [7] Answering questions from Almaty residents through a hotline
Science played a vital role in health-and-wellness education during the COVID-19 pandemic, as volunteers in Almaty were trained in safety protocols and hygiene practices based on scientific recommendations.
The BizBirgemiz volunteer movement in Almaty, while gaining public trust and collecting substantial donations, also highlighted the importance of transparency in the governance and management of volunteer funds, especially in relation to the charity fund linked to the movement that faced allegations of embezzlement.
