A Step Towards a Clean Planet. The „Clean Up the World” in the Schools of Krzyżanowice.

The annual "Clean Up the World" campaign is one of the most important events that engages students and adults across Poland in active environmental protection efforts. It is an excellent opportunity to practically remind young people how crucial it is to take care of the cleanliness of our planet. In 2024, schools from the Krzyżanowice Municipality decided to take a special part in this initiative, addressing the issues of pollution and environmental degradation.

On September 30th, the Anti-Smog School Team from the Primary School in Tworków joined the national "Clean Up the World" campaign. This was not just a symbolic gesture – it was a real commitment to the local community and the natural environment.

Armed with garbage bags and protective gloves, students, along with their supervisor Mrs. Justyna Wojda, set out to clean up the areas around the school and the picturesque grounds near the castle ruins. It wasn't just a duty, but primarily a pleasure – this was the unanimous opinion of the participants. Cleaning up alongside peers and teachers became an opportunity for bonding, while also serving as an important lesson in ecology.

This initiative was coordinated by Angelika Krupa, the eco-manager for the Krzyżanowice Municipality, whose goal is to continuously raise environmental awareness among residents. As Mrs. Justyna Wojda, a teacher and supervisor of the Anti-Smog Team, emphasizes, such actions are not only crucial for the state of the environment but also for educating young people. Students who actively participate in protecting their surroundings develop a sense of responsibility for the planet's future. "These are small steps that can bring about big changes," she adds.

On October 1st, the Primary School in Krzyżanowice also joined the "Clean Up the World" campaign. The Anti-Smog School Team there was established through the integrated LIFE project titled "Silesia. Blue Sky Restored," aimed at improving air quality in the region and promoting ecological education.

On that day, students, together with their teacher Magdalena Gancarczyk, got to work, cleaning the areas around the school and various corners of the town. Full of enthusiasm, the young people collected litter, sorted the waste, and realized how important it is to care for the cleanliness of the environment on a daily basis.

The campaign was overseen by Mrs. Magdalena Gancarczyk, a teacher from the Primary School in Krzyżanowice, who supervised the students' work, providing them with support and education at every step. For the children and youth, this was not only a form of physical activity but above all a lesson in how to make a real impact on improving the natural environment.

Both schools, in Tworków and Krzyżanowice, set the goal of not only cleaning up their surroundings but also instilling pro-ecological attitudes in their students. The "Clean Up the World" campaign thus became an excellent opportunity for children and youth to see that their everyday choices have a direct impact on the environment around them.

Eco-manager Angelika Krupa says that "such actions are not just one-time efforts, but part of a long-term plan. The goal is to awaken ecological awareness, foster responsibility for the environment, and guide the younger generation towards eco-friendly behaviors in adult life."

Thanks to joint efforts, the students and teachers of both schools demonstrated that each of us can contribute to improving the state of the environment. "What we are doing today is for us, but also for future generations. We want our planet to be clean and healthy," the organizers of the campaign conclude.

These actions show that every step towards environmental protection matters. Together, we can build a better, cleaner future for all of us!

Photos: Magdalena Gancarczyk, Justyna Wojda