As part of the HWPL Peace My City Campaign, youth leaders, environmental activists, and community members came together for a coastal environmental clean-up at Sunset Beach, Cape Town. The initiative was held on Saturday, 31 January 2026 from 09:00 to 11:00, reinforcing a shared commitment to peace, environmental protection, and community responsibility.
Hosted and organised by Hotlane Organisation in partnership with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), the clean-up responded to growing concerns around coastal pollution intensified by peak tourism season. Participants included youth volunteers, IPYG and HWPL volunteers, ECOP workers, and members of the general public, who actively participated in restoring the coastline.
The event was led by Mr Khotso Mogotlane, Founder of Hotlane Organisation, alongside Ms Marie Claire Tshizala, Project Coordinator at Africa Unite. Volunteers were guided through a structured programme that included an introduction to the Peace My City initiative, reflections on the importance of youth-led peacebuilding, and coordinated clean-up activities along the beach.
Aligned with the Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) framework, the initiative highlighted the connection between environmental stewardship and peacebuilding. By protecting shared natural spaces, the project aimed to foster social cohesion, collective ownership, and long-term sustainability. The involvement of ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professionals) workers further ensured that the clean-up efforts complemented municipal waste management systems and supported ongoing environmental maintenance.
The clean-up was supported through meaningful partnerships, including Plastics SA, which donated trash bags, and Aquelle, which provided water for volunteers. Youth from IPYG, Africa Unite, and Hotlane Organisation worked side by side, demonstrating unity across organisations and communities. One of the participants, Lasconnie from Africa Unite volunteer (MARS movement) shared, “I’m very happy that I got to be a part of this initiative. This is my first time actually coming to volunteer and clean up the beach. It was a very good experience and I really enjoyed it. I think inner peace is the best peace ever. So, once I have peace within myself, then I’m able to have peace with my community, my family and my environment.”
This Peace My City activity not only reduced litter and pollution along Sunset Beach but also promoted a culture of peace through action. The event strengthened relationships with local organisations, expanded youth engagement in volunteerism, and reaffirmed HWPL and IPYG’s commitment to grassroots peacebuilding in South Africa.
Through initiatives like these, Peace My City continues to show that peace is not only discussed, it is practiced through collective care for people, communities, and the environment.
