Moscow, 4-8 December 2024 – CICA Deputy Secretary General Zhang Ling participated in the International Forum for Civil Participation #WeAreTogether 2024 as a member of the Directorate of the International Track of Prize WeAreTogether.
At the grand opening ceremony, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin congratulated the Forum's guests and participants on International Volunteer Day and expressed his gratitude to volunteers for their invaluable work and compassion for those in need.
During the award ceremony, Ms. Zhang Ling presented statuettes to nine winners of the International Track of the Prize across three categories, four of whom represented CICA Member States: Kazakhstan, India, Iraq and Uzbekistan.
Addressing the participants, the CICA Deputy Secretary General highlighted the remarkable progress of the WeAreTogether International Track this year, with an increase in foreign applications and improved project quality, reflecting the Forum's growing appeal and international reputation year after year.
Zhang Ling noted the significant growth of volunteerism in the CICA region in recent years and expressed gratitude to the Russian side for its initiative in promoting it across the pan-Asian area. Building on this initiative and the shared vision of the leaders of the organization's Member States, the CICA Foreign Ministers adopted a Statement on Promoting Volunteerism for Sustainable Development in 2023. Additionally, a series of events were organized on this matter, culminating in the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders this October in Astana, which brought together over 450 delegates from 21 CICA countries.
The Deputy Secretary General expressed CICA's readiness to strengthen the synergy of countries to foster the spirit and values of volunteerism, aiming to implement joint projects to scale best practices and experiences in the pan-Asian region. She also called on all participants to join the volunteer movement to jointly celebrate the International Year of Volunteers in 2026, proclaimed by the resolution of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly at the initiative of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The International Forum #WeAreTogether is held annually by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs of Russia and is timed to coincide with the International Volunteer Day. In total, 49,521 people from 142 countries applied for the prize in 2024, with 126 participants becoming finalists.
