Cleaning Campaign at the "Meirim" Home for the Elderly: KazNU Students' Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Department of Thermal Physics and Technical Physics at the Faculty of Physics and Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, continuously integrates academic and scientific standards with active civic responsibility. Within a modern higher education institution, fostering high moral values, environmental awareness, and empathy among students serves as a fundamental pillar of the educational mission. In line with these values, department students, under the supervision of Senior Lecturer Ardak Maksutkhanova, organized a social and environmental cleaning campaign at the "Meirim" Home for the Elderly.

This initiative was held to support the practical implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary objectives of the event were to provide care and attention to senior citizens, improve the sanitary conditions and living comfort of the facility, and develop social responsibility, environmental culture, and ethics among university youth.

During the event, students carried out comprehensive cleaning of the indoor premises and surrounding grounds of the home for the elderly. Through their dedicated efforts, participants helped create a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for the residents. A central aspect of the visit was spending quality time interacting with the elderly residents. The students displayed great respect, kindness, and warmth, bringing positive emotions and genuine companionship to the senior citizens.

This social and environmental project directly aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Maintaining cleanliness and creating comfortable living conditions directly contribute to preserving the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly;

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Fostering non-formal ethical education, civic learning, and personal value development through active community participation;

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The activity contributes to building safe, inclusive, accessible, and supportive living spaces for all community members, including older generations;

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Students demonstrated an environmentally responsible mindset by highlighting the importance of cleanliness, waste reduction, and caring for shared public spaces;

• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The campaign strengthens sustainable partnerships between the university and social welfare institutions, promoting community solidarity and mutual aid.

Such charitable initiatives play an essential role in nurturing future professionals. They instill deep respect for older generations, strengthen civic consciousness, and encourage youth to participate actively in meaningful social projects. The action at the "Meirim" Home for the Elderly stands as a vivid example of putting sustainable development principles into practice while fulfilling the social mission of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Cleanliness is a sign of culture; care is an expression of humanity!