World Clean-up Day Action in the DRC

Fr. Charles Elang SVD JPIC SVD Coordinator of the DRC

September 20, 2025

To mark World Clean-up Day on September 20th, the JPIC office of the SVD Congo Province spearheaded a significant clean-up initiative in Kinshasa.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ group of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, and included key participation from the administrations of two Catholic schools: Collège Notre Dame d’Afrique and Lycée Mpiko.

The Day’s Activities

The day commenced at Lycée Mpiko with a brief opening ceremony hosted by youth from SVD parishes in Kinshasa. The ceremony featured short addresses from the JPIC Coordinator of the Congo Province, the Head Teacher of Lycée Mpiko, and the District Chair, all of whom spoke about the significance of the day and its impact on both current and future generations.

Following the opening, organizers distributed masks, hand gloves, and collecting bags to the participants. The activity saw the engagement of at least 100 pupils and staff from both schools.

The experience was extensive and highly impactful: participants trekked for over 20 kilometers through the city, meticulously collecting plastic bags and bottles that are often carelessly discarded throughout the area.

The clean-up concluded at a local garbage collection facility specializing in the recycling of plastic bottles, where all the collected waste was successfully assembled for processing.

Key Changes Made:

  1. Stronger Title and Headings: A more active and professional title was used, and the text was broken into sections using markdown headings.
  2. Improved Flow and Pacing: Sentences were combined or restructured to create a smoother narrative flow (e.g., “The JPIC office… spearheaded a significant clean-up initiative” is more direct than the original opening).
  3. Active Voice and Direct Language: Phrases like “spearheaded,” “key participation,” “meticulously collecting,” and “successfully assembled” were used for a more dynamic feel.
  4. Emphasis on Key Details: Important names and details (like the collaborating schools and the distance covered) were made more prominent.
  5. Refined Clunky Phrases: “At least 100 pupils together with staff” was simplified to “at least 100 pupils and staff.” “Rampantly thrown all over the place” was refined to “often carelessly discarded throughout the area.”

Professional Closing: The sign-off was formatted more clearly.

This post is also available in: Spanish