“Environmental protection is not abstract, but begins right on our doorstep.”

Bonn, September 28 (OurVoice): “The community cleaning in Bad Godesberg was an eye-opener for me. Not because I didn't know how much garbage actually accumulates, but because collecting it yourself with garbage bags is something completely different. It really makes you realize how much waste actually ends up on the streets and paths, and especially how much plastic it contains,” said Fatama Jabin, board member of the German Working Group for Bangladesh (DafB e.V.).

Nearly forty other volunteers gathered at the Fatih Mosque on Sunday with garbage bags, trash tongs, and safety vests to diligently and enthusiastically collect garbage in the surrounding area. After the campaign, Jabin described her experience and feelings as follows: “Collecting showed me that it's not just about 'cleaning up a bit,' but about restoring some respect to nature. Every discarded cup, every plastic wrapper I picked up, represented negligence. I was especially annoyed when garbage was thrown right next to a trash can. It showed how carelessly people handle garbage. Since then, I've seen it with different eyes when I discover trash in everyday life. The campaign clearly showed me that environmental protection isn't abstract, but begins right on our doorsteps."

As part of World Cleanup Day 2025, the community cleaning event took place on Sunday in Bad Godesberg. The event was supported with funding from the Federal City of Bonn. After a brief introduction to the problems of plastic and waste, participants were split into small groups to clean up the Bad Godesberg neighborhood, collect trash, and then gather for discussion. The event strengthened a sense of community and environmental awareness and created incentives for follow-up activities. The garbage collection event concluded around 2:00 p.m. with a wrap-up and an opportunity for networking over drinks.

In recognition of their outstanding achievements in the garbage collection and volunteer work, Ahmed Fahim Syed, Dali Mohamed Hasan, Fatama Jabin, and Kaliyeva Danagul were awarded medals from the Seraji Foundation.

The Seraji Foundation e.V. was the main organizer of the event. Cooperation partners were DITIB Bad Godesberg Fatih Mosque, Center Management Bad Godesberg, Netzwerk PolitikIAtelier e.V., and Kultur verbindet e.V. The Bonn Network for Development and the German Working Group for Bangladesh (DAfB) served as media partners. Our Voice Online and the magazine Die Grenze.

After welcoming remarks by Dr. Abdul Hai (Seraji Foundation) and Fatama Jabin (German Working Group for Bangladesh – DAfB), GIZ Climate Finance Manager Dr. Firdaus Ara Hussain, Ahmed Fahim Syed, Chairman of Smile Delivery Bonn, and Nurul Islam, Vice Chairman of the House of Integration, briefly explained the process, idea, and impact of the campaign.

Among those supporting the campaign were Siratun Naim, Chairman of the Seraji Foundation (SF), Saiful Hyder, Secretary of the SF, Board Member Khurshid Hasan Sajib, Riazul Isalm, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Die Grenze, television journalist Hasibul Hasan Shanto, and Dhrubo Banerzee.

Since July 2021, the Seraji Foundation e.V. regularly holds exchange meetings and community cleaning with its partner organizations on the last Sunday of the month. BonnOrange supports the campaign with garbage bags, gloves, and the collection of collected garbage. The next garbage collection campaign, as part of the Climate District under Godesburg Future Forum, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the DITIB Bad Godesberg Fatih Mosque at Koblenzer Str. 107, Bad Godesberg. Registration is requested by October 25, 2025 – via WhatsApp at +49 160 98 750 774 or by email at [email protected].