Residents gear up for clean-up
The campaign is part of a larger initiative to promote environmental awareness and civic responsibility at schools, colleges and among residents.
Ekurhuleni Community Action are a group of local volunteers focused on creating environmental awareness, behaviour change and mobilising volunteers to take action by providing opportunities to do so.
“We believe everyone has the right to live in a community that is clean and beautiful and also share a responsibility to contribute towards its actualisation.
“This year’s clean-up campaign theme is ‘It’s your turn to bin it and make a difference,” said Jacob Smith, one of the members.
The campaign is part of a larger initiative to promote environmental awareness and civic responsibility at schools, colleges, and among residents.
“We hope to inspire residents to volunteer for the campaign as a way of giving back to the community and making it a more pleasant place for us all to live. We want to encourage people to be more mindful of their impact on the environment by disposing of litter the right way.
“We also want to foster a sense of community, cohesion, and cooperation among our neighbours. We hope that the campaign would inspire others to join in and to take care of their surroundings,” he added.
A community clean-up campaign is an organised effort by a group of people to improve the appearance and environmental quality of a specific area or community.
Such campaigns can involve activities such as picking up litter, cutting grass, removing posters from walls, washing pavements, removing weeds growing on sidewalks and concrete, removing graffiti, planting trees, cutting down obstructing tree branches, clearing up illegal dumping, and beautifying public spaces.
Community clean-up campaigns can have many benefits, such as:
• They improve the aesthetic appeal and security of the community, making it more pleasant and inviting for residents and visitors.
• They foster civic engagement and social cohesion among residents, creating a sense of community pride and ownership of the local environment.
• They diminish the likelihood of disease transmission and pest infestation, protecting the health and well-being of people and animals.
• They augment the value and attractiveness of local businesses and properties, boosting the local economy and tourism potential.
• They increase awareness and education about environmental issues and solutions, inspiring people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and practices.
“We call every resident, school, college, place of worship, group and business to participate on September 25 at 07:00. We request businesses to devote two hours on September 22 to clean up somewhere around Springs.
“We also provide information and resources on how to organise similar campaigns in other areas,” explained Lukas van Staaden, another member.
To volunteer as a street coordinator or as a clean-up volunteer for the big day, log on to www.mycupoftea.co.za to register.
You can also WhatsApp your name and address to 065 684 5279 or visit TheCommunityAction on Facebook.
