USAID's RAMP UP
Charikar youth participate in a community clean-up day.
Charikar City, the capital of Parwan Province, produces 85 cubic meters of solid waste each day. To put that into perspective, imagine half of a football field covered in ankle-deep trash, and you have a good picture of Charikar’s daily waste.
To assist the municipality, USAID’s Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations (RAMP UP) worked with the Mayor of Charikar and other local officials to prepare a strategic plan for waste removal that includes, among other things, plans for community clean-up days and increased “green” techniques, such as composting.
The clean-up days, known locally as Hashar, have included a large youth component, which is also part of the strategy. At Mir Ali Ahmad Boys and Girls School, for example, the entire school community collected trash together.
“Each child represents a family,” said the mayor. “Through the children we can share the message of how to keep our community clean.”
Photo & Caption Charikar Youth Engage in Community Clean Up