Yesterday Kazakhstan first lady Sara Nazarbayeva was given an award of the SOS Kinderdorf International fund – a Gold ring of Honor at a meeting of SOS-mums from different states of the world, first on the Kinderdorf International record that Almaty was hosting.

As the fund’s president Helmut Kutin said this award is given to Sara Nazarbayev for her invaluable contribution in children villages’ development, for her work for Kazakhstan children’s good.

-This ring is a token of care for the children, H.Kutin said, - I am gladly taking part in honoring the mothers who dedicated their life to children with all their hearts.

-There are no somebody else’s children, S.Nazarbayeva said in response. –The mums creating families for orphaned and deprived children are carrying out a mission of love and happiness.

The mayor of Almaty Ahmetjan Yesimov said it was an honor for the town to host this international ceremony, marking S.Nazarbayeva’s outstanding contribution that won her respect in the world.

It should be borne in mind that the SOS children villages are non-state social organizations, defending the children rights for 60 years already. At present there are over 450 SOS children villages in over 130 states of the world.

The SOS Kinderdorf International fund was established in 1949 by an Austrian humanist Herman Gmeiner, who said that if they succeeded in building in Austria at least three children villages the life lived was worthwhile. Later the villages were established in France, Italy and Germany.

The ambassador of Austria to Kazakhstan Ursula Faringer thanked S.Nazarbayeva on behalf of the Austrian SOS Kinderdorf.

In the 15-year record the corporate “SOS children villages of Kazakhstan” fund has built three such villages in Almaty, Astana and Temirtau, two kindergartens, four youth homes. In all there are nearly a thousand children and teenagers in the corporate fund’s tutelage.

The project’s general sponsor is Kazakhstan HSBC Bank, whose annual support amounts to USD 100 thousand.

-Our biggest reward is our children’s happiness, the SOS mums said receiving the award.

Marina Mihailova

Almaty

Photo: Yury Bekker