What does it look like when young people become drivers of change in their community? The answer was demonstrated by the initiative “Clean and Green Schoolyard – for a Healthy and Inclusive Community”, which, through the principles of green social work, brought together students, the school and the local community in a joint action for a healthier and more sustainable living environment.

The initiative was implemented at SUGS “Shaip Jusuf” in the Municipality of Shuto Orizari, where around 30 students actively participated in cleaning and arranging the schoolyard, as well as planting 16 new seedlings.

However, the goal of the initiative went far beyond beautifying the space – it aimed to demonstrate that caring for the environment begins with personal participation, shared responsibility and a sense of belonging to the community.

In the spirit of green social work, the activity connected environmental responsibility, social inclusion and youth participation. The students were not merely participants in an environmental action, but active agents who, through practical work, developed environmental awareness, teamwork, solidarity and responsibility towards public spaces.

🌱 Green social work recognizes that changes in the environment are simultaneously changes in people and their communities. For this reason, the initiative transformed the schoolyard into a space for learning, connection and collective action, encouraging young people to become drivers of positive change and examples of sustainable behaviour.

🤝 Initiatives like this show that through small but concrete local actions, we can create a stronger sense of community, strengthen care for the environment and build generations that recognize sustainability as a shared value rather than an individual responsibility.

🌍 This initiative is part of the project ZZZ – Together for Green Advocacy for Environmental Protection”, supported by the Government of Switzerland through Civica Mobilitas, in partnership with **CMA KRIK, the Center for Social Initiatives “Nadezh” and the Association of Social Workers of Macedonia.