Teen-led plogging drives community action
Around 650 kilograms of rubbish were collected in two clean-up events in Girona Est, led by a group of teenage girls from the area. The initiative, organised through the Barça Activa't programme in partnership with the Fundació GironaEst and FC Barcelona Foundation, took place in April and May across the neighbourhoods of Font de la Pólvora, Vila-roja, Grup Sant Daniel, Mas Ramada and La Creueta. Participants took part in a 'plogging' event, a blend of jogging and litter-picking, combining physical activity with environmental action. The first event, held on 19 April, saw about 20 people gather and collect over 350kg of waste in two hours. Support came from the volunteer group Brigada del Salabret, which provided logistical help and equipment. The clean-up focused on areas around local schools, including Escola Vila-roja, Infantil de Font, Cavall Fort nursery and Sagrada Família.
Second event doubles community involvement
A follow-up event on 20 May saw around 30 participants, including residents and employees from Marlex, a company affiliated with Fundació GironaEst. This second action targeted areas along the river from Mas Ramada through Grup Sant Daniel to Font de la Pólvora, collecting 300kg of rubbish in just over an hour. Girona+Neta, the municipal cleaning service, coordinated waste collection points for both events. The project is part of the Barça Activa't programme, which has been active with Fundació GironaEst since 2024.
“Not much effort is needed to keep it clean.”
Aitana, Ainhoa, Anaís, Indira, Inas, Roa, Thalia and Daniela were the young leaders of the initiative. They said the project helped show others the importance of keeping neighbourhoods clean. Though initially hesitant, they said they now feel proud of making their area more liveable and involving others in public space care.
Residents call for sustained civic responsibility
Parallel clean-up efforts have emerged in other parts of Girona Est. Nassi El Boughlamy, representative of the Grup Sant Daniel Neighbourhood Association, said local residents have started daily clean-ups and are encouraging youth to preserve public spaces. The association provides cleaning tools to support these efforts. Jose Fernandez, president of the Font de la Pólvora Neighbourhood Association, welcomed the girls' actions and noted increased family involvement in maintaining cleanliness. However, he stressed that the area has long faced administrative neglect and called on the Ajuntament (city council) to support cleaning and maintenance. “Girona Est is also Girona,” he said.
Reported by Diari de Girona.
