Each year, September 15th is highlighted as World Cleanup Day. With more than 17 million people participating, the day serves as one of the biggest civic action against waste. Youth Exchange and Study (YES) alumni in Tanzania joined others across the world working to make their communities cleaner and safer.

Alumni decided to organize their event at the Amana Regional Referral Hospital, where one of the alumni’s mother works. Amana Hospital serves over one million people in the districts of Ilala, Temeke, and Kinondoni and is the second largest hospital in Dar Es Salaam. The hospital is also widely known for its maternity wing, delivering an average of 80 babies a day, so the alumni found it serviceable to spend World Cleanup Day helping keep the facility well kept for patients and staff.

According to one of the alumni that helped with the project, the idea first came about when the group met for their annual general meeting for the Tanzania YES Alumni Association (TAYAA). The seven alumni recognized World Cleanup Day as both a day of service and a day to come together.

“Days [like World Cleanup Day] bring people together for a very important cause, to keep our communities clean,” said James Chungu (YES alumnus 2012-2013, Tanzania, hosted in Grundy Center, IA by IRIS. “It also leaves a remarkable impact on society.”

With Amana Hospital serving so many people from the surrounding districts, staff were thankful the alumni spent their day helping mop and pickup up any litter throughout the hospital. While no future projects have been planned, YES alumnus Rupati Makoi (YES alumnus 2012-2013, Tanzania, hosted in Indianapolis, IN by CIEE) said the group does hope to return to Amana Hospital soon.

“Our help was deeply appreciated by the hospital staff,” Rupati said. “They look forward to working with us on further projects as much as we look forward to working with them again.”