Avondale residents last week met at the Avondale shopping centre to conduct a clean-up exercise.

This was the second action of the recently formed community group Turning Avondale Green (TAG). The event was led by One Church with support from City of Harare (CoH), Miracle Missions and Imagine Avonlea – all part of the new collective aiming to have a clean Harare by 2015.

Clean-up leader Sean Mullen billed the event as a success. He said that the turnout from the community was good and the quantity of rubbish removed was significant, highlighting just how littered Avondale has become.

Imagine Avonlea coordinator Nick Takavadii says he first came into contact with the Avondale group when he was buying something for a clean-up last month and a dialogue started. They sat down to ask ‘What’s beyond the clean-up?’ and subsequently the name Turning Avondale Green was born. Takavadii, with the help of Miracle Missions’ Sharon Hook, managed to get every businessperson and shop owner at Avondale shopping centre to contribute by emphasising that they are all stakeholders.

Mullen says the plan now is to get the group registered. Once registered they can go round households and businesses to educate the masses. The goal is to educate and motivate everyone to chip in and do something. Their activity will show people how serious they are about doing this on a permanent basis. It is hoped that the door to door work will be more effective than their current information drives through messages via whatsaap or email.

At last week’s clean-up, people from all walks of life joined in. Even those people who had not been aware of the campaign joined in, including street kids and cleaners. After the clean-up people interacted, exchanging ideas while having refreshments.

To find out more contact TAG’s committee: turningavondalegreen@gmail.com.