Baku, June 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: A Charity Festival dedicated to teachers from Azerbaijan’s general education institutions was held in Baku at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.
Organized in cooperation with IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and the ThinkIn organization, the open-air festival brought together nearly 1,000 teachers from 290 general education institutions across the country at the Central Botanical Garden.
Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva toured the festival’s activity zones, interacting with participants in the national culture area, art workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, handicraft fair and other interactive spaces. They also viewed creative performances by schoolchildren and received handmade gifts from participants.
Addressing the gathering, Leyla Aliyeva expressed confidence that the festival would bring joy and positive emotions to all attendees, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the potential of every child.
“Every child is a miracle and a treasure. The sooner we discover this, the sooner their talents will be revealed,” she said.
She stressed the role of teachers, parents and society in better understanding children and fostering their development, describing kindness as one of the greatest human values. Leyla Aliyeva also expressed appreciation to teachers for their dedication and responsible service.
A panel discussion held during the festival focused on promoting kindness, compassion, mutual respect and empathy within educational institutions.
Among the speakers, Narmina Huseynova and Vafa Kazdal highlighted the essential role teachers play in shaping future generations and contributing to society’s development.
The event also featured an awards ceremony recognizing winners of the “Kindness Marathon,” which encouraged schools to produce creative social media content promoting kindness and social responsibility.
Schools No. 55, 244, 83, 156, 185, 45, 277, 144, 211, 300 and 165 received awards in categories including “Most Sincere Gratitude,” “Kindness Award,” and “Best Environmental Initiative.” The initiative sought to strengthen values of gratitude, creativity, solidarity and kindness within everyday school life.
A handicraft exhibition showcased products created by students and representatives of Integrated Training Boarding School No. 11, the “Birga an Saghlam” Autism Center, the Zeka Yolu Development Center, the İZ Community, Kashalata, and several other organizations.
The festival concluded with a concert programme celebrating educators and reaffirming the importance of fostering an educational environment based on empathy, mutual respect and moral values.
Organizers said the event aimed to express society’s appreciation for teachers while promoting a culture of kindness and support within Azerbaijan’s education system and the wider community.
