For the first time, we’re taking trash to the streets – and it’s a good thing!
Our Little Prince – Cleaning up Jerusalem initiative has engaged resident activists from all Jerusalem sectors to work together to clean up Jerusalem. The result – almost unheard-of cooperation between the Jerusalem Municipality across numerous departments and units, local community centers and organizations, and residents and individual initiatives, to plan, organize and carry out a range of activities that advance a Clean Jerusalem.
An exciting example of this broad-based cooperation was the Trash Parade, held on September 24, an initiative led by residents, together with the municipal sanitation department. The Cleaning Up Gonenim group, an active Whatsapp group of residents and local municipal staff and officials, led the initiative. The group has been in operation for about a year, and has forged important joint work between residents and the Municipality in helping to clean up the Gonenim neighborhood.
Garbage trucks leading the Trash Parade
This is the first such parade to be held in Israel! And the first such parade that had such a broad base of support and cooperation. Everyone participated – representatives of the Municipality, of the sanitation department, residents and their families. The residents prepared songs and dances, organized signs and a circus performance, and more. The garbage truck drivers were at the center, and alongside them, the residents.
“Have a Happy and Clean New Year!” says the sign
“We’re always trying to look for solutions, together with other residents, acting to advance a Clean Jerusalem and education for a Clean City in Jerusalem. Our goal is that both young and old will come to these activities and want to do more, not only those who are already environmental activists,” said Efrat Givaty, a local activist, in this Hebrew article about the Parade. She continued: “We are constantly thinking about what else we can do to promote activities to Clean Up Jerusalem, how we bring people to different events and that they feel it is important to them as well. These can be lectures, orienteering activities, or parades. Our goal is to target not only this neighborhood [of the German Colony] but all of Jerusalem, encourage education for a clean environment, and provide information on the issue. ”
And the Gonenim Community Center even made a movie about the Trash Parade:
Many thanks to the Jerusalem Foundation and the Rayne Foundation for their support of this project.
