The Hague, 10 March 2026 – An international online meeting was held between students of International Waldorf School The Hague and young authors from Kazakhstan – Arlan and Aslan Aitkaliyev. The event was supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and formed part of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting cultural and educational dialogue between children from different countries.

Arlan and Aslan Aitkaliyev are the authors of the children’s book “Harold and LaraBelle. The Kingdom of Books,” published in Kazakh and Russian. A distinctive feature of the publication is the inclusion of QR codes with sign-language interpretation and audio narration, making the book accessible to children with different abilities of perception. In the near future, the book is also planned to be published in English and German.

The meeting was dedicated to discussing the culture, education, and interests of schoolchildren from different countries. Participants exchanged views on school life, traditions, and hobbies, and also discussed the national cuisines of Kazakhstan and the Netherlands.

Special attention was given to the topic of learning foreign languages. Dutch students noted that in their country children begin learning several languages from an early age, including Dutch, English, and German. The Kazakh participants also shared their experiences of studying foreign languages.

During the meeting, participants also discussed the role of books and reading in the lives of young people. They shared their favorite works and reflected on how literature helps develop imagination and stimulates interest in new knowledge. Another distinctive feature of the event was the participation of schoolchildren from various countries around the world. The Dutch school is attended by students from families originating from Australia, South Africa, and other countries, which gave the meeting a truly international character and allowed participants to learn more about each other’s cultures.

Such initiatives contribute to the development of humanitarian and cultural dialogue between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands, broaden the horizons of schoolchildren, and strengthen mutual understanding among the younger generation of different countries.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-hague/press/news/details/1178601?lang=kk