Rotaract’s pilot village cleanup project obtains broad support

More than 50 individuals from Saipan Southern High School, Marianas High School, Saipan International School, and Kagman High School Interact, NMC First Army Officer Club, Northern Marianas College, and the Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program joined the Rotaract’s pilot cleanup drive last Oct. 2, cleaning the roads surrounding William S. Reyes Elementary School and from Susupe Lake to Sugar Dock beachside.

The turnout was unexpected, according to Rotaract president Richard Baleares. “A major challenge that Rotaract anticipated was the number of volunteers who would show up. I was surprised and delighted at the turnout on the day of the cleanup. Leading up to the weekend, we had only a handful of people, and I thought we’d be lucky to get more than six on the day of the cleanup. With the strong turnout, we were able to cover a lot of ground, picked up more trash, and got the job done faster than expected,” said Baleares.

“Residents were also surprised to see the mass of volunteers cleaning in their villages,” said Joann Aquino, director of operations for the Saipan Mayor’s Office. “We didn’t expect such a large group of young volunteers from other organizations besides the Rotaract to take part in this cleanup. It was amazing to see them show up with passion and commitment to do something good to benefit the village of Chalan Kanoa, regardless of whether they live there or not. Our youth are taking action today to preserve their environment for tomorrow, and what they are doing is very empowering!”

The group collected 1,040 lbs of garbage during the cleanup. Volunteers noted their appreciation for the acknowledgment they received from residents, who were waving at them, honking their horns, and rolling their windows down to thank them. Rotaract and its partners also encourage the community to play an active role in taking care of all villages in the Marianas.

“We have been privileged to call these beautiful islands our home and we should not take it for granted,” Baleares said. “We all play a part in keeping our islands clean, and we must work together in doing so. It will benefit us all in the end. Even the smallest acts, such as not littering, removing stray trash, disposing of garbage properly, and keeping personal areas clean can go a long way toward a cleaner Marianas.”

Baleares noted that after the success of the Chalan Kanoa cleanup, Rotaract will be planning projects for other villages.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang praised the volunteers and renewed his call for support to the Marianas Village Pride campaign. “We live in a unique time and are facing unique challenges—from a pandemic with devastating consequences to threats from climate change. For us to survive and thrive, we need to act together,” said Apatang. “A clean environment is essential for healthy living. We should all take ownership and responsibility for keeping our islands clean and beautiful. My office can only do so much, and we can all change the way we think and take pride in where we live. I humbly ask the entire community to come together and bring back their village pride.”

For more information about the Adopt-A-Median and Marianas Village Pride Campaign, visit the GCEA website at cnmieconomy.com or contact them at gceacnmi@gmail.com. GCEA invites the community to engage, like, and share its MVP content on Facebook and Instagram (@cnmieconomy) and to tag MVP-related photos to be featured on GCEA’s platforms (#BeAnMVP, #MarianasVillagePride, and #TogetherWeCanMarianas). (PR)