The first cohort of Going Clean has successfully concluded in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Gilo and Beit Vegan, marking an important milestone in building more active, engaged communities that take responsibility for their shared environment.
Led by the Jerusalem Intercultural Center, the program brought residents together around a shared goal: improving public spaces while strengthening community responsibility and locally led environmental action.
Throughout the program, participants took part in neighborhood cleanups, environmental awareness activities, and community leadership training. But the work does not end with the course. One of its most exciting outcomes is the development of 10 new community-led initiatives, which are now moving into action and will allow participants to continue creating change in their own neighborhoods.
The success of the first cohort has already generated significant interest. Registration for the next cohort is well underway, with more residents eager to join, take greater responsibility for their surroundings, and turn local ideas into meaningful community action.
Going Clean demonstrates a simple idea: lasting environmental change begins with people. When residents are given the tools to lead, a cleaner neighborhood can become the starting point for a stronger community.