Clean - up days: implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

Clean - up days: implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

Carrying out activities to clean up the territory has always been an important educational point of the educational process at all stages of personality formation. Tidying up, taking care of green spaces, protecting protected areas and other similar activities involving young people undoubtedly foster a responsible attitude towards the environment. Today, we can say with confidence that the tradition that came from the past is being renewed and intensified.
Actions to clean streets, courtyards, parks are an integral part of the nationwide program "Taza Kazakhstan", which was launched by the Head of State K.- Zh. Tokayev since April 2024 and operates on an ongoing basis. The main goal of the Taza Kazakhstan environmental program is to improve the environmental situation in the country, form a new ecological culture and foster respect for nature among every citizen. The initiative aims to make cleanliness and care for the environment a permanent norm of society, rather than a one - time action. Caring for the environment should become commonplace.
Clean - up days are regularly held at the al - Farabi Kazakh National University with the active involvement of students. Despite the fact that participation in the clean - up is voluntary, students from abroad studying at the Department of Language and General Education Training of Foreigners at the Faculty of Pre - university Education took part with great interest in the cleaning campaign adjacent to the academic building.
Clean - up days play the role of a practical tool for the local implementation of two interrelated UN Sustainable Development Goals. Organizing and conducting clean - up campaigns contributes to the implementation of SDG - 6 and SDG – 15 - "Clean water and sanitation", "Life & land". Nature is crucial for the survival of humanity. Traditional clean - up activities in parks, forests and on city streets are aimed at improving the terrestrial ecosystem.
It should also be noted that for students who have come to study in Kazakhstan, to see and participate in such events together with Kazakhstani students and teachers is an important moment of adaptation and socialization in our society. Thus, the organization of clean - up days is an essential component of the implementation of SDG – 4 - "Quality education" and is aimed at the formation of an ecological culture, civic responsibility and a sustainable lifestyle. In this context, the clean - up day ceases to be just cleaning the territory and turns into a tool for informal practical education.

A. Akhmedova
Senior teacher of the Department of
Language and General Education Training of Foreigners