Cape Town Youth Unite for a Coastal Clean-Up on International Volunteer Day

On December 2nd, the international peace organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), along with its affiliated group, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), conducted a local area clean-up activity at Blouberg Beach in Cape Town . Young people from across Cape Town, including the youth members of Nature Connect, and Uncedo Lwethu Foundation voluntarily joined the event to create a better environment for the local community.

The event, held under the theme of “Peace My City”, was organized to align with the United Nations International Volunteer Day (IVP) on December 5th, which aims to recognize the efforts of volunteers worldwide and encourage greater participation in volunteer work.

Miss Lanah Murray, School Coordinator of Nature Connect who participated in the cleanup shared, “Just being here today and partnering up and collaborating with IPYG and HWPL, it is something that can have a lasting effect as well. Not only creating awareness but also instilling a sense of ownership within every person as well.”

What is notable about this event is the ‘participation of young people.’ While Blouberg Beach attracts numerous tourists during holidays and summer, it often witnesses the aftermath of supplies and various pieces of rubbish being left behind, causing water pollution and threatening marine ecosystems.

Recognizing the issues faced by these communities, the IPYG has mobilized young people from across Cape Town as the main driving force for the practical pursuit of peace. Furthermore, this activity was planned with a emphasis on the practical implementation of Article 10, ‘Spread a Culture of Peace,’ from the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), a cause actively supported by youth organizations worldwide.

This declaration, comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses, aims to restore the spirit that served as the basis for the establishment of the United Nations and to achieve sustainable peace by promoting the universal values ​​​​of the global community. The DPCW contains the message of no war, peace between nations and societies, friendly relations, prosperity, happiness.

“Coastal erosion has become a vast reality, together with climate change and the pollution, so what we are trying to do is create a cleaner environment for the people who do come to the beach to find solace. To create an environment where they can also still find peace but without the man-made litter that affects the wildlife in the ocean. One thing we really care about is leaving this world as a legacy for future generations.”, Co-ordinator of IPYG South Africa branch, Abisola.

The HWPL South Africa branch has conducted several environmental cleanup campaigns in the Cape Town area in the past. In February this year, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis participated in the Maiden’s Cove area and collected garbage on the beach with dozens of volunteers.

In the future, HWPL and IPYG plan to continue various activities to solve community problems and spread a culture of peace in Southern Africa. In addition, IPYG South Africa branch plans to gather more young people into the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding working group (YEPW), an initiative of the IPYG to carry out youth-led peace education and volunteer work.