Traditional festivity for children
Heydar Aliyev Foundation arranges the New Year parties at Gulustan Palace for children from children homes and boarding schools, martyr, refugee and IDP families, orphans and children deprived of parental care, pupils distinguished in education.
President of the Foundation, Fist Lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva attended the party on 29 December along with her daughter Arzu. Mrs Aliyeva and her daughter sincerely met with children, were photographed with them.
Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the party:
Dear children, dear teachers and parents, I sincerely greet you. This year, too, we traditionally say good bye to the last year at Gulustan Palace and meet 2009. New Year is the family holiday and I am very glad that we mark this holiday together as a big and kind family.
In the last year a number of significant events happened in our country, lots of achievements gained. Development of our country – Azerbaijan goes on. Our cities, villages are renovated. Our capital has become so beautiful. new roads, nice avenues, bridges are built, new parks opened, medical and sport centers built and opened, new schools, kindergartens constructed, cultural, historical monuments restored. A lot of cultural centers have been built and opened, Heydar Aliyev Palace has been restored, Mugham Center, Gala Ethnography Museum created and so on.
Heydar Aliyev Foundation continued its activity in 2008, did a lot of works. In frame of the New School to New Azerbaijan Project construction of new schools in our country goes on. Several kindergartens were built and opened. Summer camps for children are constructed and put into service. As usual, we have tried to pay attention to problems of children at children homes and boarding schools. 5 years ago, when Heydar Aliyev Foundation was founded our major force was directed to improvement of logistics of children homes and boarding schools. But today almost all schools are under nice conditions, have been reconstructed and supplied with very modern equipment. Now we will pay attention to the level and circumstances of education in these institutions. We want our children to receive education and knowledge meeting the highest world standards.
To me, childhood is the nicest period of life. I wish every child in Azerbaijan to be happy. Therefore, we must bring up you – our children with love, respect, mercy and attention. Of course, you are in the beginning of your life. Big way, big life waits for each of you and beside joy, good days, victories you will also face difficulties, problems in this life, in this way. This is why, we – adults want to raise, educate you so that you can become tomorrow a real man, a real citizen, a real personality.
You probably know that 2009 has been declared the Year of Child in our country by the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It means attention to children must be increased. Applying today to all public bodies, NGOs dealing with child problems, to every citizen of our society I say we must approach children with much more attention and love. It is a debt to every person. Because our children is our present, the future of Azerbaijan.
Dear friends, I cordially congratulate you on the Day of Solidarity of the World Azerbaijanis and New Year Holiday, wish you health, successes and victories in the new year.
Thank you so much.