OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 December 2008 was announced, that national carrier Air Astana prepared a New Year surprise for inmates from orphanages. Air Astana organized a drawing competition among the inmates of Children's Home # 1 and a specialized center for kids, Zhanuya. Children imagined different themes in their drawings: My dream - aircraft, I want to be a pilot, I want to be a stewardess, Airplanes in the sky, Airplane and I. 130 drawings were submitted for the competition out of which 12 of the drawings have been placed on the airline's corporate calendar for 2009. In appreciation of the efforts, all children were presented souvenirs and tickets to the New Year performance of the circus and winners went on a fascinating trip; an excursion to the capital of Kazakhstan, on the plane of Air Astana. In Astana the children visited Astana-Baiterek, Palace of Peace and Accord and Entertainment Center Duman, the seaquarium located furthest from the sea in the entire world. Zhamish Kudiyarova, teacher of Zhanuya Complex said “When large companies organize such events, it is great and invaluable. In addition to financial assistance, children are in need of cultural programs, competitions, liberalizing and educating them, warm environment, attention and spiritual support. Children are so happy about this trip, as one of our pupils said, “it feels like we are caught in a fairy tale”.

This event was not the first of its kind for Air Astana who participates in a wide range of social projects. In 2008, it held more than 25 significant projects in the area of social responsibility to children from poor families, the inmates of orphanages, veterans of WW-II and Aviation, culture and sports. Amongst others, some of these activities are: supporting concerts of Kazakh stars in favor of HIV-infected children in the cities of Kazakhstan, presenting of the bus to orphan house in Astana, Almaty -Balkhash-Almaty flight with 78 orphans on board, participation in the recovery after floods in the South Kazakhstan region, projects with Red Cross, support of environmental programs of the Biodiversity Conservation Fund of Kazakhstan, a free flight for Veterans Day of Victory, etc. Individually and in cooperation with the Voluntary Society of Mercy, Air Astana provided more than 60 tickets to ill children in need of urgent medical treatment or operation and their accompanying persons. All this is part of the airline’s Corporate Responsibility, in which the goal is to take care of children - the future of Kazakhstan.