On August 20, 2025, an environmental event took place in Shymkent as a continuation of the national "Taza Kazakstan" campaign. The youth organization "Shymkala Zhastary" (Shymkent's People) and the municipal state institution "Taza Oelke" (Turkestan Street) carried out landscaping work in the courtyards of apartment buildings located on Turkestan Street. Volunteers and local residents joined the event. Despite the relatively modest scale, the results were significant: approximately one ton of household waste was removed using specialized equipment.

At first glance, a ton of waste doesn't seem like an impressive figure for a large city, but it's precisely these local initiatives that are incredibly important. Unlike citywide cleanup days, they target specific courtyards and streets, meaning they produce tangible results for the people who live there every day. Furthermore, participating in such initiatives instills in residents a sense of responsibility for their immediate surroundings.

The initiative's primary value lies not only in its sanitary benefits. It also fosters environmental awareness. In a modern city, where dense development and intense economic activity inevitably lead to increased waste, engaging the public in maintaining cleanliness is crucial. Volunteers and young people play a key role: they are responsible for instilling new habits and setting an example for others.

Similar events are held regularly in Shymkent and vary in scale. Just a few weeks earlier, on August 9, 2025, the city held a major citywide cleanup. Thousands of people participated in the cleanup, including utility workers, business representatives, students, community organizations, and ordinary citizens. In each district, a significant volume of waste was collected, using dozens of pieces of equipment. For example, in the Enbekshinsky district alone, over a thousand people and three dozen dump trucks were involved, removing approximately 75 tons of waste. In the Al-Farabi district, nearly 500 participants collected several dozen more tons of waste. Similar efforts were also conducted in the Karatau and Abay districts.

The cleanup day held in the summer of 2024 was even more ambitious. More than 150,000 city residents joined the "Taza Kazakhstan" campaign, and the volume of work accomplished exceeded all expectations. In just one day, over six thousand tons of waste were removed. Significant attention was also paid to landscaping: canals were cleaned, trees were whitewashed and trimmed, new green spaces were planted, and flower arrangements were created. The city was literally transformed in a matter of hours. This experience demonstrated that colossal results can be achieved through joint efforts.

Comparing these three events—the large-scale 2024 cleanup, the citywide August 2025 cleanup, and the local initiative on August 20—it becomes clear that each plays a distinct role. Large-scale cleanup days address global challenges, demonstrate city unity, and serve as a symbol of shared responsibility. Medium-scale events allow for coverage of large areas and the involvement of a large number of participants. Meanwhile, targeted events, like the one held in the courtyards on Turkestan Street, aim to remind every resident: cleanliness begins at your own entrance, at the building where you live.

It's also important to note the educational aspect. The young people who participated in the August cleanup not only helped clean up the area but also set an example for their peers. In a time when environmental awareness is still developing, such examples are of paramount importance. Participation in the cleanup fosters awareness: nature and the urban environment are a common asset that everyone must care for. We can't rely solely on public utilities if residents don't maintain order themselves.

Of particular value is the fact that during such events, people of different ages and backgrounds come together for a common goal. For some, it's an opportunity to demonstrate civic commitment, for others, to spend time productively, and for others, a way to make new acquaintances and improve relationships with neighbors. A common cause brings people together and creates a sense of community, which is so important in a large city.

We mustn't forget the symbolic significance of such events. A clean courtyard or street is not only aesthetically pleasing but also promotes health, safety, and comfort. When trash is removed, trees are maintained, and the area is landscaped, residents develop a completely different attitude toward the space around them. They begin to value it more and strive to maintain it.

Thus, the environmental campaign that took place on August 20th was another step toward fostering a sustainable culture of environmental stewardship. Although the volume of waste collected was incomparable to the results of larger-scale cleanup days, its importance cannot be underestimated. Initiatives like these gradually change the mindset of city residents, raising a new generation for whom cleanliness and environmental friendliness become a natural norm.

Shymkent has been growing rapidly in recent years, and with it, the need for green space development, courtyard improvements, and regular street cleaning has grown. The national "Taza Kazakhstan" campaign provides a strong impetus for addressing these issues. The key is for such initiatives not to remain isolated but to become a systemic practice that every resident becomes accustomed to.

Only then will it be possible to say that the city has truly changed – not only externally, but also internally, in the minds of its citizens.