There are 14,850 non-governmental organizations - NGOs registered in Kazakhstan. In Astana there are 362 NGOs. If you selflessly do good and always looking how to improve your activities you surely belong to the Young and Restless. All participants of the Social Camp could be called the Young and Restless. The event was held in Astana on the basis of the Eurasian National University named after Lev Gumilev on July 23-25.

Staff of our capital Hesed, Director Elena Levina and Coordinator Natalya Golovina, actively participated in the seminar. There were 16 sessions on the seminar. Participants had a choice what sessions to attend. As Hesed Astana has already a good experience in many spheres we were more interested in the methods used by NGOs and implementation of social projects.

Using the word "mission" gave a fresh vision of the seminar work and explained the mere existence of non-governmental organizations. The meaning of the word translated from Latin is task, duty, assignment, and mission. As John James Piette said, "what is going from heart will get to heart". This is the high goal of the mission. The Mission is not a dogma, it is reviewed and adapted to modern realities at least once in every three years.

The session on methods of fundraising developing was very interesting. The most burning issues such as what is more efficient - a one-time charity assistance or accumulated charity fund? How to distribute it? If on a competition basis, what competition criteria should be? Who will hold the tenders? There are many pitfalls in this issue, so our discussions were heated. The seminar participants included experienced people and decisive, radical young people.

After the seminar I have interviewed Hesed Director Elena Levina who represents the Jewish Community of Astana.
- Was the participation in the seminar by the regional NGO school useful to you?
- I have met interesting people with unorthodox ideas. I have confirmed for myself that our mission is the right one; however we are using the word "program" instead of "mission".
- What is your opinion of creating a state volunteer structure similar to that of the USA, the Peace Corps?
- This would be great!
- What would you wish to the organizers of such regional schools?
- I would suggest making a clear division between the beginners and experienced organizations for their future seminars.

The seminar is over but the work continues. As Francis Bakon said, "The best way to retain the memory of good deeds is to repeat them".

Lyudmila Tsymbalyuk