The Well-Being of Our Elderly Is Our Greatest Treasure

SDG-16 On February 4, 2026, within the framework of the «Law and Order» campaign, third-year students of the Faculty of Journalism Erbolat Kaster, Kabylkhan Ayaulym, Toleukhanova Aisha, Makhanov Danial, and Meirkhan Nurzhalgas  under the guidance of senior lecturer of the Department of Print and Electronic Media, Alim Assel, as well as students of Group 105, Madi Temirbek and Didar Sultan, led by their advisor, senior lecturer and PhD Erzhan Zhumabekov, visited the municipal state institution «Shanyraq Social Services Center».

This institution, commonly referred to as a nursing home, is home to about 300 elderly residents. Sixty percent of them are people with disabilities, and some are completely bedridden.

The charity event began with a concert. The program featured the widely known and deeply meaningful song based on the poem «Life, Life!» by PhD Erzhan Zhumabekov, traditional folk songs such as «Moldabay» as well as terme performed by the author himself.

Third-year student Kabylkhan Ayaulym recited several poems by the outstanding poet Mukagali Makataev from memory. The evening continued with the elders giving their blessing and the presentation of gifts.

Students and teachers visited the elderly residents’ rooms individually, familiarizing themselves with their living conditions and health status. The residents shared their impressions, spoke about recently performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and noted that they were satisfied with the living conditions and medical care provided.

During conversations with the caregiving staff, students realized that the elderly residents have complex characters: they are like children, and finding the right approach to each of them is not easy.
«Most of them have children, but we try to give them the warmth they did not receive from their own children»-, the staff members shared.

Abandoning one’s aging parents is an act alien to the Kazakh people and contrary to our centuries-old traditions. Modern society should regard actions such as leaving one’s own children or parents to fend for themselves as the highest degree of cruelty. Whether such people will be punished by the laws of society or by Shari - only time will tell.