On 16th September 2023, the world celebrated World Cleanup Day, an annual event that unites millions of people across the globe to clean up their communities and promote environmental consciousness. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Earth,” is a call to preserve the Earth as well as shed light on the pressing issue – poor waste disposal and its detrimental effects on our environment.
World Cleanup Day 2023 was an opportunity for the people to come together and take a stand for their environment.
Our concentration was on Orisumbare Market, in Osogbo. Market people are an essential part of the community, and their involvement in this project was crucial. They experience the effects of poor waste management daily and could make a significant impact on the cleanliness of their surroundings.
Our mission aligned with one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. This goal emphasizes the importance of ensuring access to clean water and adequate sanitation for all. By cleaning up our community, we contribute to a healthier environment, protecting our water sources and promoting sanitation awareness.
The project spanned a single day but left a lasting impression. We had an incredible team of 26 dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. YTOP Global, in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Osun State, YALI Network Osun, coordinated this inspiring initiative.
We had volunteers from YTOP Global. Ekundayo Oluwadamilare, who is the Executive Director, YTOP Global, was a participant and a major motivation for other volunteers. Famogbiyele Timilehin,a graduate of civil engineering who specializes in environmental engineering, was also a participant.
We also had in attendance Adekunle Maryam, a penultimate student of Management and Accounting who specializes in financial analysts. Ilori Cornelius, a specialist in toxicology and inhibitory studies, actively partook in the movement.
Finally, in attendance was Olasupo Caroline, who specializes in environmental literature and also a fervent SDG 6 advocatee.
With so much determination, we reached approximately 500 market people who were receptive to our cause. Together, we collected about 50 kilograms of waste. This achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished when a community joins hands together for a common goal.
Furthermore, our project benefited from the presence of nine dedicated health officers who ensured that safety and hygiene standards were upheld throughout the cleanup.
World Cleanup Day 2023 in Osogbo was an inspiring demonstration of what can be achieved when organizations and people unite for a common goal. With our environment in crisis, it is important that we continue to celebrate our planet by taking practical steps towards its preservation.
This project not only brought people together but also contributed to the realization of SDG 6. It reminded us that change is possible when we work collectively.
As we move forward, let’s carry the spirit of ‘Celebrate the Earth’ in our hearts.
