Activity carried out as part of the professionalization project of the Czechoslovak Roma Union association

On Saturday, September 20, 2026, volunteers from the Czechoslovak Roma Union once again participated in the nationwide “Let’s Clean Up the Czech Republic” (*Ukliďme Česko*) event. They worked at two locations in Ústí nad Labem: the Mojžíř housing estate and Nové Předlice. A total of 34 volunteers took part, resulting in the collection and removal of over 8 tons of municipal waste.

This year’s event was the first to take place under the conditions established by the association’s ongoing professionalization project. This project focuses on strengthening the organization’s internal capacities—including planning, volunteer coordination, occupational safety in the field, partner communication, and output documentation. Field events like “Let’s Clean Up the Czech Republic” provide the ideal setting to test these established procedures in practice.

Mojžíř: twenty volunteers on the estate’s streets

The cleanup at the Mojžíř housing estate was led by Irena Dunová. Under her guidance, twenty volunteers set to work, focusing on the areas surrounding the apartment blocks, the greenery between the buildings, and open spaces where waste had accumulated over time. In addition to standard municipal waste, they also collected bulky waste that had been discarded outside designated collection points.

Nové Předlice: fourteen people, equal dedication

A second group worked in Nové Předlice under the leadership of Gabriela Ferková. Fourteen volunteers focused on the streets and public spaces in the area. Both coordinators followed a unified organizational framework—assigning work zones, registering participants, providing protective gear, and arranging for the waste to be hauled away. Standardizing these procedures across different locations is one of the project’s tangible benefits.

The twelfth consecutive year

For volunteers from the Czechoslovak Roma Union, this marked their twelfth participation in the “Let’s Clean Up Czechia” (Ukliďme Česko) campaign. Twelve years means twelve Saturdays spent—instead of resting—grabbing gloves and bags to clean up the very places where they live. This continuity is vital for the association; professionalization is not intended to replace volunteering but to provide a more solid foundation, ensuring its sustainability for years to come.

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere thanks to all the volunteers who took part in this year’s cleanup. Special thanks go to Irena Dunová and Gabriela Ferková for organizing the activities at both locations. Your work makes a visible and meaningful difference.

Thank you, and we look forward to the thirteenth year.

PROJECT

Professionalization of the Czechoslovak Roma Union Association | Registration Number: CZ.03.02.03/00/24_073/0004573

The project is funded by the European Union under the Employment Plus Operational Programme, specifically the call for proposals regarding capacity building and professionalization of Roma and pro-Roma NGOs.