ASEZ WAO the World Mission Society Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group carried out large-scale environmental cleanups. It’s a global volunteer group of young adult workers from the Churches of God in 175 countries. Under the slogan, “We Are One,” the members look after their neighbors and communities and protect the environment with one accord like Mother who cares for Her children with love. They give their best to the implementation of the UN SDGs and to raising awareness of it, working actively in various fields such as environmental protection, emergency relief, social service, and helping farmers.

Over 5,000 members, including not only existing young adult workers but also new young adult workers who used to be ASEZ college student volunteers at their campuses, participated in the worldwide environmental cleanup campaign, which has been held mainly on holidays since early May.

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The Church of God’s Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group has cleaned up Central Park at Songdo International Business District in Incheon, Korea.

Young adults with raincoats picked up garbage and removed the illegal posters on the walls at the Songdo Central Park in Incheon, Doryeong-ro St. in Jeju, and Musil-dong in Wonju, Korea, despite the pouring rain. In the crowded places such as Mt. Namsan, Mt. Gwanaksan, Gwanghwamun Gate, and the city hall in Seoul, Seomyeon in Busan, and Daegu Station, they conducted campaigns to raise awareness on the environment and on the implementation of the UN SDGs.

In San Diego, Orlando, and Seattle in the U.S., Auckland in New Zealand, Tokyo in Japan, Singapore, and Pretoria in South Africa, they carried out street cleanups and planted trees and flowers. The streets cleaned up by the young adults around the world were about 150 km [93 miles], and the collected garbage was about 18 tons.

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ASEZ WAO’s volunteer services were welcomed by people from all walks of life. “One of the yardsticks of an advanced country is the young adults’ participation rate in volunteer services. Today, I’ve been convinced that young adults with boundless potentials are leading this country to an advanced country,” said Kim Sil, the manager of the Incheon Branch of the Korean National Tuberculosis Association. “I hope the young adults and students in the Philippines will come to Korea and learn the culture of making the city beautiful,” said Geraldine Araneta, a high school teacher who visited Korea from Manila, Philippines, during the vacation and saw the campaigns, with a thump up.

“You’re not just picking up garbage. You’re doing much better and prouder work,” said City Councilor Shawn Wilkinson in Pretoria, South Africa.

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The young adults looked rewarded and joyful, giving up their holidays for the volunteer service. “It is said the survival of mankind is difficult if bees become extinct. It is our responsibility to preserve the ecosystem that is not conspicuous but indispensable,” said Brother Mokhalaka Moteetee, a college lecturer who participated in the cleanup in Johannesburg, South Africa, expressing his will to do the volunteer service consistently. “I didn’t have many opportunities to come here even though I live close by. I’m proud that I’m here for the cleanup. I feel like my stress is released,” said Sister Kim Ran-ju from Seoul, Korea, who participated in the cleanup in Mt. Gwanaksan, with a smile.

ASEZ WAO plans to extend the range of volunteer services according to young adult workers’ schedule like summer holidays.

SDGs is an abbreviation of the Sustainable Development Goals and is the agenda adopted by the UN in 2015 for the sustainable development of mankind. It is composed of 17 goals such as No Poverty, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Gender Equality, and of 169 detailed targets and 230 indicators.

The international community has agreed to implement the SDGs by 2030 to address poverty, disease, education, and environmental degradation that are prevalent in much of the global village. It is pointed out that the continuous interest and participation of governments and citizens of each country is necessary to realize the SDGs.