Abai Knows No Age

The plans of the Parasat trade union of employees of Al-Farabi KazNU have always included a variety of activities for employees and their children. However, due to the coronavirus epidemic, many events had to be transferred to a remote format, postponed or even cancelled.

However, it was decided to celebrate the Children's Day in such a way that it would be remembered for a long time. Taking into account that this year is the 175th anniversary of Abai Kunanbayev, the Trade Union decided that it would be good if children and their parents would remember the poems of the great Abai, who, as noted by the President of Kazakhstan K.Tokayev, left an indelible mark in the history of Kazakhstan as a scientist, thinker, poet, enlightener, founder of new national literature, translator and composer.

Given the quarantine, it was decided to hold the online contest. The idea was actively supported by the University leadership. Rector Galym Mutanov has always noted that the year of Abai should remain in the memory of teachers and students. The Trade Union offered parents and grandparents to record videos showing their child reading by heart the poem of Abai. From May 15, the videos were posted on the installation-page of the "Parasat" trade union of workers of Al-Farabi KazNU (KazNU_Parasat). The winner was to be the one who would gain the most likes and comments. The aim of the contest was to introduce children to the creativity of Abai, to study his works in accordance with their life needs, to be able to convey to the listener the thoughts and feelings of Abai.

Participants were evaluated in four age groups: preschoolers, 1st-4th grade pupils; 5th-9th and 10th-11th grade pupils. A jury was formed to determine winners and prizewinners, counting votes and comments. Both children and parents enjoyed the competition. In two weeks, the Trade Union Committee received 72 videos. With what feeling children read poems! And the smallest - Sofia Sharnina, who is 2,5 years old (her father - S. Sharnin, head of the Department of Information Systems of the Military Department of KazNU). And ten-grader Amangeldi Miras Shoqanuly, in support of which was given 5282 votes, his father is a teacher of the Faculty of Philology Shortanbaev S. A.). Five-year-old Malik Bagzhan read three poems of Abai and took the third place in her group (her mother - Abdiakhmetova Z.M., acting associate professor of informatics department of the Faculty of IT). The most active were younger schoolchildren - the winners in this group got more than 3000 votes each.

The parents also demonstrated creative approach in making video materials. Many contestants were dressed in national costumes, some were taken off against the background of book shelves with works of the great poet in their hands, some decided to tell poems against the background of nature. The poems were sounded in three languages - Kazakh Russian and English. Daniyar Balym sang Abai Kunanbayev's song "Zhelsiz tunde zharyk ai" (mother - Daniyarova A.B., Deputy Director of Higher School of Education). The Military Department approached the task very creatively and made a general video with congratulations.

Winners of the competition were awarded with special diplomas, letters of thanks and prizes. Both children and parents were happy! 
- The online contest is a new experience of the Trade Union, said the Chairman of the Trade Union "Parasat" of employees of KazNU, T.C. Mekebayev. The contest caused a great response among our employees. We once again touched the works of the great Abai, once again understood how his poems and prose reflected the national consciousness, life, worldview, character, soul, faith, language, traditions and spirit of the people, which later were evaluated as a unique phenomenon called the world of Abai. And this is, perhaps, the most important outcome of the event.