Spread Seeds of Happiness by Cleaning the Yudeungcheon Stream

The increase in the usage of disposable items amid the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the waste not only within households but also in public places such as streets, rivers, and parks. The ecological condition of urban rivers, frequently visited by people, is also concerning.

On November 25, 151 members of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation (led by Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah) in Daejeon region, held a cleanup activity at the Yudeungcheon Stream. This initiative was part of the “Happy Dandelion Puffs Project,” which WeLoveU agreed upon with the Daejeon Metropolitan City River Management Office in August 2019. This project encourages local residents or organizations to autonomously take care of designated areas, spreading happiness like dandelion puffs, as part of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s environmental program.

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, members, who had been unable to carry out cleanups for a long time, became even more proactive. Not to miss even a single spot, they organized into teams and thoroughly cleaned a distance of approximately 2 km (1.2 miles) from Samcheon Bridge to Suchim Bridge. Walking along the Yudeungcheon Stream’s bike path, trails, and riverbanks, they collected over 100 kg (220 lbs) of waste, including a variety of items such as disposable products, water bottles, rubber buckets, paper boxes, safety helmets, and more.

Members expressed that the cleanliness around the river seemed to purify their hearts as well. They pledged to persist in their cleanup efforts, aiming to spread the “puffs of happiness” to even more people in the future.