“Welcome to Your Ancestral Homeland!” – A Celebration of National Spirit and Unity

On October 21, 2026, the Department of Pre-University Training of the Faculty of Pre-University Education at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University held its traditional festive event, “Atamekenge Qosh Keldiniz!” (“Welcome to Your Ancestral Homeland!”), dedicated to the Republic Day of Kazakhstan. The event was organized in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

The celebration began with a welcoming address by A. A. Bektanov, Dean of the Faculty of Pre-University Education. In his speech, he emphasized the profound spiritual significance of the concept of Atameken (ancestral homeland), particularly for ethnic Kazakhs living abroad. He also extended his best wishes to young people returning to their historical homeland and pursuing education in their native language.

During the event, students of the department from Kazakh communities abroad expressed their longing for their ancestral homeland and their love for Kazakhstan through traditional songs, kui (instrumental musical compositions), dances, and poetry. An exhibition of traditional Kazakh jewelry was also organized to showcase and promote the nation's rich cultural heritage.

The guest of honor, poet Muratkan Shokan, shared inspiring reflections with the students and recited his original poems. A performance of the song “Guldariga” by a first-year student of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory received a warm response from the audience. Students from the Faculty of Philology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, together with Sanai Gulnurma, a student of the Department of Pre-University Training, enriched the cultural program with poetry recitations.

The aim of the event was to foster patriotism among students, promote national culture and traditions, strengthen respect for their ancestral homeland, reinforce the national identity of young ethnic Kazakhs returning from abroad, and facilitate their adaptation to the sociocultural environment.

The celebration contributed to developing students' patriotic awareness, increasing their interest in national cultural heritage, and strengthening spiritual solidarity among young compatriots. The event also promoted cultural continuity, reinforced national identity, and supported the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into educational and extracurricular activities.