The Kindness Festival, dedicated to teachers in Azerbaijan's general education institutions, was held under the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the event, organized through the collaboration of the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Science and Education, and the "ThinkIn" organization, was attended by nearly 1,000 teachers from 290 schools across the country.
Held in an open-air format at the Central Botanical Garden, the festival was attended by Leyla Aliyeva and Alona Aliyeva. They explored various activity zones, including a national zone, art workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, and a craft fair, where they engaged with participants and viewed creative performances by students.
During the official part of the event, Leyla Aliyeva expressed her belief that the festival would bring positive emotions to all attendees. She emphasized that every child is a miracle and a treasure, noting that the sooner these talents are discovered, the sooner they will flourish. She highlighted the importance of kindness as a source of happiness and thanked the teachers for their dedicated work.
A panel discussion addressed the importance of promoting values such as kindness, compassion, mutual respect, and empathy in schools. Narmina Huseynova, acting head of the Baku City Education Department, and Vafa Kazdal, Vice-Rector of ADA University, emphasized the crucial role teachers play in the development of future generations and society as a whole.
The event also featured an awards ceremony for the "Kindness Marathon," which recognized creative social media content from schools. Schools including numbers 55, 244, 83, 156, 185, 45, 277, 144, 211, 300, and 165 were honored in categories such as "Most Sincere Gratitude," "Kind Deeds Award," and "Best Environmental Initiative."
The Kindness Festival aims to express society's deep respect and gratitude toward teachers while fostering a healthy educational environment based on empathy and moral values. By integrating these principles into the school culture, the initiative seeks to demonstrate the essential role of kindness in both the education system and the broader development of Azerbaijani society.
The festival concluded with a concert program, while the craft fair featured products from the 11th Integration Boarding School, the "Birge ve Saglam" (Together and Healthy) Autism Center, the Zeka Yolu Development Center, and other organizations.
