Baku: A Charity Festival dedicated to the teachers of Azerbaijan's general education institutions was held at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of IDEA Public Union, APA reports. The event, organized in cooperation with IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the 'ThinkIn' organization, brought together nearly 1,000 teachers from 290 general education institutions across the country.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva attended the festival, which took place in an open-air format at the Central Botanical Garden. They engaged with participants across various activity zones, including the national zone, art workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, and a handicraft fair. The event also included interactive spaces and creative performances by schoolchildren. Leyla and Alena Aliyeva took commemorative photos and received handmade gifts from participants.
During the official segment of the event, Leyla Aliyeva expressed her belief that the festival would bring joy and positive emotions to all attendees. She highlighted the importance of recognizing every child's potential, stating that early discovery of their talents is crucial. Emphasizing the role of kindness, she remarked that it is the greatest happiness and thanked teachers for their pivotal work.
A panel discussion was also part of the festival, focusing on promoting values such as kindness, compassion, mutual respect, and empathy in educational institutions. Narmina Huseynova, Acting Head of the Baku City Education Department, and Vafa Kazdal, Vice-Rector of ADA University, spoke on the crucial role of teachers in shaping future generations and society.
An award ceremony honored the winners of the 'Kindness Marathon,' recognizing schools for their creative social media content on kindness. Schools such as No. 55, 244, and 83 were among those recognized in categories like 'Most Sincere Gratitude' and 'Best Environmental Initiative.' The marathon aimed to integrate kindness, gratitude, creativity, and solidarity into school culture.
The festival concluded with a grand concert program, aiming to express society's respect and gratitude to teachers. It sought to promote a healthy educational environment based on kindness and mutual respect, and to highlight the role of kindness in education and society.
The handicraft fair was part of the event, featuring products from Integrated Training Boarding School No. 11, the 'Birga an Saghlam' Autism Center, the Zeka Yolu Development Center, the 'IZ Community,' 'Kashalata,' and other organizations.