Kyrgyzstan Legalizes Volunteer Activity

Why this is here: Active Volunteers facilitated the participation of its directors in the Eurasia Global Forum in autumn 2025, bringing together 500 participants from over 113 countries.

In 2023, Kyrgyzstan officially adopted a law establishing a legal basis for volunteer work. The Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy will serve as the focal point for the International Year of Volunteers 2026. Active Volunteers, founded in 2017 by Bekbolot Stalbekov, began as a student platform for practical experience and has grown into a youth foundation working across multiple sectors—charity, education, culture, and civic engagement.

Currently, nearly 100 youth and volunteer organizations operate throughout Kyrgyzstan, and major public events increasingly rely on trained volunteers. Active Volunteers reports a broadening age range of participants, now including students as young as 13 alongside young professionals and middle-aged citizens. The organization also facilitates international exchange programs, like “Strong Youth – Strong Country,” funded by the EU and UNICEF.

Sustainable funding remains a key challenge for volunteer organizations in Kyrgyzstan, despite growing cooperation from state bodies, universities, and businesses. The organization notes that infrastructure for volunteer support is still developing, but improving with increased state support and new initiatives.