The CIN (Children in need) Maindee Youth Project organised a successful community clean up at Maindee school during half term on Thursday 23rd February 10am-5pm.

Building resilient communities through cleaning together

“The Maindee youth project is a project to help young people engage in diversionary activities. The aim is to help them and others to feel safe in there communities by getting them to contribute and participate. Through participating allows them to have a place in the community. showing that they have something good to contribute and something good through the project (training, certifications, opportunities) “ Zenia Hamid (Maindee Youth Project, Youth worker)

The walkway (main entrance) between Maindee School and Rodney parade had become a bit of an eyesore and unsafe space where drug paraphernalia had been previously found in the bushes. Shrubs and brambles became all over grown and there are no bins in the area which results in all the bushes becoming filled with discarded rubbish and sometimes dangerous scrap items. It was not a pleasant site before the Maindee Youth Project became involved to say the least. 80 bags of rubbish were collected and disposed of which is an amazing contribution to the area.  

With the support of professional youth workers, the young people from the project wanted to try and give something back to their community and they started by asking for help. This began with calling the local authorise to help strip back some of the large bushes, then creating a Facebook event page and through email contacted local people to arrive on the Thursday morning at communities house to help out. They wanted to clean up the area, firstly of litter and then trim the bushes even more, along with shrubs and brambles so the area is reset to become cleaner and safer for all. It is the process of demonstrating how we can live more sustainably and in a community while respecting Nature’s limits, which helps build resilient communities. 

“Today has been really good, we have had a wide variety of people like teachers, youth workers,  residents, and young people from a wide area of the area.” Zenia Hamid 

It doesn't matter what you call it, trash, litter, debris, or junk - it's dangerous to our safety, our wildlife, our health and on large scales can affect our economy as it becomes a burden for authorities and individuals to take care of. The number of volunteers attending was a positive outcome for the area. The numbers throughout the day did fluctuate but at its lowest was around 20 people of the wider community.

“The more people of a community that is involved, the more of a community it becomes” David Hando (Maindee Unlimited)

“I think it's important for everyone to help keep this sustainable. This has to be carried on, perhaps a rota of us or the council that keeps this area clean with the support of the school and its teachers and students to keep the surrounding area clean. ” Zenia Hamid

WHY VOLUNTEERING WORKS. 

#10: It's good for you.

Volunteering provides physical and mental rewards. It:

  • Reduces stress: Experts report that when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns.
  • Makes you healthier: Moods and emotions, like optimism, joy, and control over one's fate, strengthen the immune system.

#9: It saves resources.

Volunteering provides valuable community services so more money can be spent on local improvements.

#8: Volunteers gain professional experience.

You can test out a career.

#7: It brings people together.

As a volunteer you assist in:

  • Uniting people from diverse backgrounds to work toward a common goal
  • Building camaraderie and teamwork. Something that needs to develop in multi racial and diverse communities. 

#6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem.

Understanding community needs helps foster empathy and self-efficacy.

#5: Volunteering strengthens your community.

As a volunteer you help:

  • Support families 
  • Improve schools 
  • Support youth 
  • Beautify the community

#4: You learn a lot.

Volunteers learn things like these:

  • Self: Volunteers discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self worth.
  • Government: Through working with local non-profit agencies, volunteers learn about the functions and operation of our government.
  • Community: Volunteers gain knowledge of local resources available to solve community needs.

#3: You get a chance to give back.

People like to support community resources that they use themselves or that benefit people they care about.

#2: Volunteering encourages civic responsibility.

Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it.

#1: You make a difference.

Every person counts! This is the key step to building resilient communities.  

Maindee Youth Project FACEBOOK