Jastar Ruhy (), previously known as Jas Otan until 2022 () is a youth wing of the ruling Amanat party. The youth organisation was originally formed at the 1st Jas Otan Congress in Astana on 14 May 2008.
The Jastar Ruhy encompasses its branches across all Kazakhstan's regions, including the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, as well as branches in districts and cities. The Jastar Ruhy central council includes deputies from the lower chamber Mäjilis and mäslihats (local assemblies) of all levels, leaders of youth NGOs, young athletes and cultural figures. As of 2012, the number of youth organization's members is approximately more than 200,000.
History
The Jastar Ruhy youth wing of the ruling Amanat party initially acted without having its own separate legal body. On 25 November 2006, at a political council meeting of Otan, Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov in his report noted there had been no single meeting of the Jas Otan republican council within the time frame of 1.5 years, and its leaders had organized only one-time events which was not connected with others. The political council of Otan, central office, all branches and representatives was given a task to intensify work with young people and provide a program of action in this direction urgently.
On 17 January 2008, at an enlarged meeting of political council of Nur Otan, party chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to hold congress of Jas Otan youth wing of Nur Otan People's Democratic Party in spring of a same year.
On 14 May 2008, the 1st Jas Otan Congress was held in Astana with participation of Nazarbayev. In a process of preparation to the 1st Congress, Nur Otan party initiated parliamentary hearings on the discussion of the Law on State Youth Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, youth conferences were organized in all regions of the country to approve a list of 310 delegates to the Congress.
The congress was also attended by leaders of youth organizations from Kazakhstan, members of the party and the Bureau of Political Council, heads of the Administration of President of Kazakhstan, and deputies of the Parliament, representatives of government, the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan, mass-media, and young guests from foreign countries. The 1st Congress of Delegates adopted the statutes of a public association and action strategy for 2008–2011, the executive secretary of the organization was selected Nurlan Uteshev.
In his speech at the Congress, Nazarbayev assigned immediate tasks to the organization to create all necessary conditions under which every young citizen of Kazakhstan would be able to realize a potential, become self-sufficient and competitive personality, and also noted the role of established organization in the state youth policy:
In January 2009, Jas Otan presented project "Black Label" in which the youth organisation declared that it would review complaints and appeals from citizens received in the public reception room of Nur Otan in 2008 and first half of 2009. After monitoring Jas Otan intended to identify state authorities, on whose wrongful acts the most complaints had been received, and to set mark "Black Label" at the front gate of a state body, the corruption in which had been more developed according to complains of citizens.
To execute assignment of the President of Kazakhstan to organize all-Kazakhstan marathon to support of needy students, which was announced on 12 February 2009 at enlarged meeting of the Bureau of Political Council of the Nur Otan, Jas Otan and the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna concluded a memorandum of understanding for providing educational grants for students. The Jas Otan had also conducted all-Kazakhstan TV marathon "Energy of the youth to the Fatherland, a noble heart to the youth" to support students.
In April 2010, Jas Otan held an action "Tarbagatay grief – grief of whole Kazakhstan" to collect clothes and food for flood victims in Tarbagatay rayon of East Kazakhstan region. On April 2 Karaganda branch of Jas Otan was the first among other branches to send humanitarian aid (one KAMAZ vehicle with food and a Gazelle with the necessary clothing).
In April – May 2010 in the framework of republican campaign "We are Kazakhstani people! Kazakhstan is our common home", the youth wing held a photo exhibition "There are 140 me in the word we" dedicated to inter-ethnic harmony.
On 16 June 2010 in the framework of republican campaign "Life without drugs", in all oblasts of Kazakhstan and the cities of Astana and Almaty various activities (sports, pickets, rallies, and other outreach activities) were held to propagandize fighting against drug addiction.