On August 20, 2025, an ecological event of particular importance took place in Shymkent. On the initiative of "Shymkala Youth" and with the support of the "Taza Olke" municipal state institution, large-scale cleaning work was organized in the courtyards of multi-storey buildings located along Turkestan Street. Volunteer youth actively participated in this day's cleanup, and residents also joined in. As a result, about one ton of garbage was removed using special equipment. At first glance, one ton of garbage may not seem like a big indicator for the city. However, this was a significant step in maintaining the cleanliness of courtyards and streets at the local level. After all, it is from such small initiatives that large movements arise.

The main goal of this campaign is to show compassion for the environment, increase environmental responsibility among residents, and form a culture of environmental protection among young people. Especially in recent years, environmental issues have become one of the most relevant topics on the agenda for society. The rapid development of the city, the growth of the population, and the expansion of industrial facilities have increased pressure on nature and increased the volume of household waste. In this context, cleaning campaigns are becoming not only a measure of sanitary importance, but also a means of environmental education.

Shymkent has been an active participant in the "Clean Kazakhstan" republican campaign several times before. For example, on August 9, 2025, a large-scale city-wide clean-up was held. On this day, thousands of residents and hundreds of employees of institutions worked together in Enbekshy, Al-Farabi, Karatau and Abay districts. For example, in Enbekshy district alone, more than a thousand people participated and more than thirty special equipment was mobilized. As a result, about 75 tons of garbage were removed. In Al-Farabi district, more than 400 residents gathered and 32 tons of household waste were collected with the help of 14 pieces of equipment. And in other districts, cleaning work was carried out on a similar scale. The peculiarity of this clean-up was that not only representatives of the akimat, utility workers, but also entrepreneurs, various public organizations and ordinary citizens actively participated in it.

The action, which took place in June 2024, was even more unique in terms of its scale. At that time, more than 154 thousand Shymkent residents went on a one-day Sabbath, more than 6 thousand industrial and business facilities, and more than 600 social institutions participated. More than 6 and a half thousand tons of garbage were removed from the city streets in one day. In addition, about 9 thousand kilometers of sidewalks were cleaned, and more than 700 kilometers of irrigation systems were restored. During this event, not only cleaning was carried out, but also extensive landscaping work was carried out: hundreds of thousands of trees were whitewashed, sanitary pruning was carried out, tens of thousands of seedlings were planted, flower beds and lawns were landscaped. Even more than a million tulips were planted. Work of this scale was remembered as one of the largest environmental measures in the history of Shymkent.

Compared to these historical examples, the cleaning of Turkestan Street on August 20, 2025 was clearly on a much smaller scale. However, its importance does not diminish. After all, while large-scale cleanups are often organized on a city-wide scale, such local events are held with the direct participation of residents of each district and yard. This increases people's desire to keep their homes clean and has a direct impact on everyday life. Cleaning the yards of multi-storey buildings is a concrete example of residents improving their living environment.

The activity of young people is also worth noting. Members of the "Shymkala Youth" organization not only participated in the Sabbath, but also set an example for others and promoted environmental culture. Such events instill a sense of responsibility for nature in the younger generation. Although environmental education and upbringing currently begin in school, it is very important to strengthen it through practical activities. When young people collect garbage with their own hands and clean the streets, they become more aware of the state of nature and their desire to protect it increases.

Another aspect of this event is its call to unity in society. In ecological actions, people of different ages and social groups come together and work for a common good. This strengthens relationships between residents and increases mutual understanding. Trust is formed between people who have worked together, and they are more likely to support each other in solving everyday problems.

In this sense, the clean-up on August 20, 2025, although a small step, has great symbolic significance. This event proves that the environmental movement is becoming not just a one-time campaign, but a permanent process. The large-scale clean-up in June last year, the large-scale sanitary cleaning in early August this year, and the local action on Turkestan Street are all links in one chain. They all have the same ultimate goal: to make Shymkent a clean, beautiful, and comfortable city.

In conclusion, each event held within the framework of the "Clean Kazakhstan" campaign is a contribution to the ecological future of the city. The large-scale Saturday 2024, the city campaign on August 9, 2025, and the yard cleanup on August 20 - although different in scale, converge in essence to one goal. These initiatives not only increase the responsibility of residents for the environment, but also instill in young people a sense of love for nature and its protection. Therefore, if such events continue systematically, Shymkent will undoubtedly become one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country from an ecological point of view.