One of the social diseases of modern society, without exaggeration, can be called corruption. Long-term international experience shows that only the consolidation of the efforts of the entire society can help in the fight against this negative phenomenon.
Today in Kazakhstan practically all target groups of the population are involved in this struggle. The harm of corruption is spoken about everywhere: from labor collectives to business representatives, heads of national holdings and companies. At the same time, one of the most important target groups - cultural workers and the creative intelligentsia - occupies a special place. Because they have a huge impact on public opinion. It is not for nothing that the intelligentsia is called the "conscience of the nation."
Back in August 2020, on the basis of the National Academic Library, live broadcasts were held with representatives of the scientific and creative intelligentsia, prominent state and public figures, during which they told the audience about the anti-corruption policy pursued in the country.
The experience turned out to be successful, and on February 3 this year, the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a solemn presentation of the joint project of the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Sports "Parasat Zholy" - "The Road of Integrity". The essence of the project is the formation of the principles of honesty, integrity, justice, as well as spirituality in society, through the implementation of information, social and volunteer events with the participation of library workers, scientists, writers, poets, representatives of the clergy and public opinion leaders.
Considering the importance of promoting the ideology of integrity, regional centers "Parasat Zholy" were opened simultaneously in all regional libraries of the country, as well as project branches based on city and district libraries. Libraries are called upon to become centers of sorts in the development of the ideology of integrity and the formation of zero tolerance for corruption. The choice of libraries as the basic platform for promoting the "Parasat Zholy" project is not accidental, since books are still the most important factor in spiritual education, and the libraries themselves are centers of attraction for creative, erudite people with an active life position. These are unique platforms for attracting young people and scientists to work on developing effective solutions to combat corruption. In addition, the opening of the centers has increased the level of interaction between various representatives of civil society. Thus, every caring citizen, a regular library reader, can contribute to the fight against corruption.
In just six months, more than two hundred events of various formats were held in the region within the framework of the Parasat Zholy project.
One of the starting events took place in the hall of the regional library named after Leo Tolstoy, where a meeting was organized with the poet, playwright, publicist, member of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan, laureate of the International Literary Prize "Alash" Akylbek Kozhaevich Shayakhmet.
And on April 15, in the center "Parasat Zholy" at the Kostanay regional universal scientific library named after Leo Tolstoy, the advisor of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhazira Zhylkyshieva and the head of the republican regional center "Parasat Zholy" Sadibek Tugel met with representatives of the creative intelligentsia.
Live broadcasts and video meetings with famous poets, writers, scientists, state and public figures of Kostanay have already become traditional, which are broadcast live on social networks and are posted on the library's official YouTube channel. The performances of Margulan Ospanov, A.I.Suslova, Yu. Ya. Bondarenko, A.M. Alzhanova and many others became resonant.
District and city libraries also do not stand aside. For example, a theatrical performance “One bribe - two crimes” was organized for residents at the site of the Denisovskaya central regional library. In the Amangeldy region in July, a seminar "Zhemkorlyksyz bolashak" was held for cultural workers, during which the participants discussed the reflection of the topic of corruption in fiction and discussed the practical mechanisms of the state anti-corruption policy.
Thus, the entire Kazakh society is actively involved in the fight against this social evil. Already today, the participants of the "Parasat Zholy" project are planning a series of educational and interactive events timed to coincide with the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is celebrated annually on December 9th.
Mutual understanding, respect and trust are the three pillars on which the Parasat Zholy project is based. And the first results of his activity speak about the loyalty of the chosen principles, about the effectiveness and importance of this work, which finds a response and support among the population.
Oleksyuk Alexey Vasilievich
Head of the information and literary sector
Kostanay Regional Universal Scientific Library
named after L.N. Tolstoy