Celebrating New Year with some precious friends

For Kazakhstan, and indeed for the majority of post-Soviet countries, New Year is undoubtedly the most important holiday of the year. As the date approaches, everyone waits with eager expectation, hoping to see even their wildest dreams fulfilled. For a child New Year is much more than just a holiday! It is a special time for long awaited gifts - gifts that have been prepared with great love by caring parents and close friends.

Aina, Aigul and Sasha – three 10 year old friends were practicing a beautiful Kazakh dance, when our team arrived at the Children’s Refuge for their New Year show. The kids at this refuge for children from abusive situation would be celebrating this New Year without family or close relatives.

However, from the moment we arrived, it was clear that these kids were doing all they could to make their show a special one for the guests who came to watch their show.For us it was a real gift to be able to participate in such a wonderful party with such wonderful kids! Beautiful Kazakh dancing, sweet singing, recital of new year poems, and the kids’ happy smiles were for us the highlight of this New Year’s day. We sincerely hope that the gifts we gave of a television, backpacks and toys brought the kids the kind of joy they gave us!