On August 16, a citywide clean-up day was held in Shymkent again, in which employees of the land relations department took an active part. As every week, they went out into the streets and courtyards to contribute to the cleanliness and improvement of the city. Such initiatives have long ceased to be a one-time action - today it is part of a systematic work that forms an environmental culture and strengthens the sense of responsibility among residents.

The current clean-up day covered different areas of the city, where garbage was cleared, areas around buildings and public spaces were cleaned. The department employees, having joined forces, showed an example of careful attitude to the environment. At the same time, the organizers emphasize: cleanliness is not a one-time event, but a daily habit that every resident should follow.

If we compare the current practice with the last decade, the difference is noticeable. Previously, clean-up days were held no more than a few times a year – in spring or autumn, most often as part of the national campaign "Taza Kazakhstan". On such days, city residents came out en masse to clean up, but after a short time, the cleanliness was again replaced by the usual picture - garbage on the roadsides, unkempt yards, unauthorized dumps. Today, the approach has changed. The city authorities have made clean-up days regular, and now residents can join the common cause every Saturday. This has had a tangible effect: order has become more noticeable, and the habit of throwing garbage in bins is gradually becoming entrenched.

The peculiarity of the current clean-up days is that not only municipal services or individual activists join them. Civil servants, business representatives, students, schoolchildren and simply concerned residents participate in the action. Such unification of different social groups shows that concern for cleanliness has become a common cause. It was not possible to achieve such a scale in previous years.

On August 16, the organizers focused not only on cleaning, but also on educational work. Residents were reminded of the need to protect green areas, properly sort waste, and not throw garbage in unauthorized places. Such explanations were almost never given before, and therefore the results of the cleanups were short-lived. Now the situation is changing: people are beginning to understand that the cleanliness of the city directly depends on their behavior in everyday life.

It is important to note that in recent years the appearance of Shymkent has really changed. Where previously one could see spontaneous dumps, today there are container sites. The number of violators throwing garbage in the wrong places is decreasing. This is largely due to regular clean-up days, which remind residents of the importance of order and discipline.

Comparing today's events with the past, one can note another difference: previously, clean-up days were perceived more as an obligation or a formality. People came out because "that's how it's supposed to be," but their attitude to work was superficial. Today, participation has become conscious. Many city residents come with their families, bring their children, in order to cultivate respect for work and nature. This approach creates a completely different result - a long-term effect appears, not a temporary order.

On August 16, employees of the land relations department showed by their example that every person can influence the state of the city. Such actions form a positive image of state bodies that not only perform administrative functions, but also participate in socially useful work. This is another important step towards the word "cleanliness" ceasing to be associated only with the duties of utility workers.

City authorities note that the practice of clean-up days will be continued and expanded. The plans include not only garbage collection, but also landscaping of green areas, tree planting, and development of playgrounds and sports grounds. If previously clean-up days were limited to a few hours of cleaning, now it is turning into a comprehensive program to improve the urban environment.

Residents of Shymkent are increasingly taking part in these events. According to them, they feel the real benefit of their efforts – clean streets, well-kept yards and a sense of unity with neighbors and colleagues. Many admit that participation in clean-up days has changed their attitude to everyday habits: they have become more attentive to waste sorting, have stopped passing by discarded garbage, and have begun to value public space more.

Thus, the clean-up day on August 16 became another confirmation that the tradition of regular cleaning in Shymkent has taken root and is producing results. Unlike previous years, when such events were one-time events, today they have become part of a sustainable city culture. Cleanliness and order in the city are now perceived not as the responsibility of individual services, but as a common task for the entire society.

Shymkent is gradually turning into a city where caring about cleanliness is becoming the norm. And this is largely due to those who take to the streets every Saturday – be it officials, entrepreneurs, students or ordinary citizens. Their joint work is forming a new face of the city and shows that only together can we achieve real changes.