On August 16, 2025, another citywide clean-up day was held in Shymkent, organized within the framework of the republican environmental campaign "Taza Kazakhstan". This time, special attention was drawn to the participation of workers in culture, archival affairs and the sphere of language development, as well as young people, who, together with other city structures, took to the streets to contribute to the cleanliness of the metropolis.

The large-scale event covered various areas of the city. Participants cleared streets, courtyards, squares, public spaces from accumulated garbage, and also tidied up green areas. In total, several tons of household waste were removed from the city, which was a noticeable result of collective work.

The peculiarity of this particular clean-up day was that it was actively attended by employees of cultural institutions – employees of libraries, archives, cultural centers, as well as artists and representatives of youth associations. If usually public utilities and district akimats are involved in the clean-up, then this time the initiative was supported by those who work daily in the field of spiritual and cultural development of society. Thus, the idea is emphasized that caring for the environment is not only the work of public utilities, but a common task in which everyone can play an important role.

For cultural workers, participation in the clean-up day has become a symbolic step of sorts. After all, the cleanliness of streets and parks is also part of the general culture of society. When librarians, musicians or archivists go out to clean up together with residents, it increases trust, unites people and gives an example of how spiritual values can be combined with practical actions.

An important part of the event was the presence of young people. Young professionals and students involved in the cultural sphere helped not only to clean the area, but also to conduct outreach work. They distributed leaflets, reminded passers-by of the importance of caring for nature and talked about how even small steps – sorting garbage, refusing plastic, keeping the yard clean – can change the urban environment.

If we compare this clean-up day with previous years, we can note a clear expansion in scale and involvement. In 2023, cultural representatives also went out to clean up, but then such events were more of a one-off nature and were timed to coincide with holidays. So, in the spring of that year, on the eve of Nauryz, employees of museums and cultural centers cleaned the area around monuments and parks in order to celebrate the holiday in a clean environment. In 2024, creative groups joined the action, which after the clean-up organized small concert programs for city residents, reminding that caring for nature can be not only useful, but also festive.

However, in 2025, environmental events became more regular: clean-up days began to be held every week, which allowed to significantly increase the volume of work done. If in previous years it was possible to collect and remove 10-15 tons of garbage during one clean-up day, now we are talking about 40 tons or more. This means that not only the scale has grown, but also the willingness of residents and organizations themselves to actively participate in such initiatives has become higher.

An important result of the current clean-up day was the formation of a sense of shared responsibility for the urban environment in society. When utility workers, officials, librarians, artists and young people work shoulder to shoulder during the clean-up, a feeling of unity is created. Residents, seeing such a picture, also join in more often. Thus, the clean-up day turns into not just a business event, but a social movement uniting people of different professions and ages.

It is worth emphasizing separately that the participation of the cultural sphere also has an educational effect. Those who are used to seeing cultural workers on stage or within the walls of libraries perceive their participation in the clean-up as a visual lesson. This shows that caring for nature is part of the general cultural code. In this way, a new view of ecology is formed: it is not an abstract task, but daily behavior, where everyone can make an effort.

On August 16, the clean-up day in Shymkent became another milestone in the implementation of the Taza Kazakhstan program. The organizers and participants emphasize that such events will continue in the future, involving more and more citizens. The main achievement is that the involvement of the population increases each time, and along with this, the environmental culture grows.

Comparing the current clean-up day with previous years, we can say that it has become more systematic, widespread and effective. If earlier ecology was perceived as a one-time event for a holiday, today it is gradually becoming a part of city life. A clean city is a comfortable environment, and residents of Shymkent are increasingly aware that this is a common task that requires constant attention.

Thus, the past clean-up day with the participation of cultural representatives and youth not only helped to clean the city streets, but also demonstrated a new level of public consciousness. The experience of past years shows that such initiatives should be regular and massive. And this is exactly what Shymkent is doing today: turning city cleaning into a tradition that unites people for the sake of the future.