About 50 volunteers took part in a beach clean-up at Independence Beach and the Wakuna area on Sunday, collecting around one ton of litter along a one-kilometre stretch of coastline.
The clean-up was organised by ASEZ WAO, the Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group of the World Mission Society Church of God, as part of its international “Blue Ocean” environmental project. The project aims to prevent waste from reaching the ocean by cleaning beaches, rivers, streams and other areas. The volunteers gathered at 10:00 and, after receiving cleaning equipment and bags, divided into sections along the beach. For about two hours, they collected litter from the sandy beach and coastline. Among the waste collected were plastic cups and straws, food packaging, beverage cans and bottles, plastic bags, tyres, cigarette butts and various building materials.
Walvis Bay Municipality supported the initiative by providing cleaning supplies. Mayor of Walvis Bay, Johannes Shimbilinga, visited the clean-up and thanked the volunteers for their efforts. “I thank the Church leaders and the congregation that took an opportunity to come and do the cleaning campaign here,” Shimbilinga said. He said the volunteers had responded to his call during his Mayoral Cleaning Campaign and encouraged other residents to do the same. “You really did a good job. You did your part and therefore I am calling each and every citizen of this town to take part in the clean-up campaign. This is our town and it must look beautiful. Thank you very much and keep it up,” he said.
An ASEZ WAO representative said keeping the beaches of Walvis Bay clean was important for both the local environment and the protection of the marine ecosystem. “We hope today’s clean-up activity will raise citizens’ awareness of the issue of marine waste and lead to environmental protection in daily life,” the representative said. The group said it would continue working with local communities on activities aimed at protecting the ocean. ASEZ WAO has also carried out the Blue Ocean project in Swakopmund and other environmental activities across Namibia.
Through its “Green Earth” project, the group has conducted clean-ups in places including Windhoek, Oshakati and Rundu, focusing on streets, parks, urban areas and other parts of the terrestrial environment. The group also runs its “Mother’s Forest” project, through which volunteers plant trees to help respond to climate change by creating natural carbon sinks. Tree-planting activities have been carried out in areas including Tobias Hainyeko.
Sunday’s clean-up in Walvis Bay highlighted the amount of waste that can accumulate along the coastline, while also showing what can be achieved when residents and volunteer groups work together to care for the town and its surrounding marine environment.
By Eileen van der Schyff
