“We Are Together!” International Volunteer Festival Officially Opens in Tashkent

The “We Are Together!” International Volunteer Festival has officially opened in Tashkent. The event was organized by the Uzbekistan Volunteers Association with the support of the National Agency for Social Protection and the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The festival marks an important step in strengthening the volunteer movement and implementing Presidential Decree No. 185 on establishing the “We Are Together!” national initiative.

Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva’s Address — the Highlight of the Opening Ceremony

A key moment of the opening ceremony was the address delivered by Shahnoza Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection. In her speech, she emphasized that volunteerism has long been rooted in Uzbekistan’s culture and has now become a priority direction of national policy.

She stated:

“Volunteering is a part of our culture. Uzbekistan has always valued mutual support. Today, these values have become the foundation of state policy and international cooperation. Our volunteers support families, children, people with disabilities, and help solve social challenges. It is our youth who have demonstrated the humanitarian mission of our country to the world.”

During the ceremony, the UN Volunteers Programme also officially presented the first analytical report on volunteerism in Central Asia — VCARE — to the National Agency for Social Protection.

Conclusion

The opening ceremony of the “We Are Together!” festival reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s dedication to solidarity, humanitarian values, and the support of youth initiatives. Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva’s participation highlighted the growing significance of volunteerism in national policy and in the country’s international humanitarian engagement.