Next spring, the official 'Big Cleanup' ('Lielā talka') will take place for the 20th time on April 24th, it has been confirmed.
Originally launched to mark the 90th anniversary of Latvian statehood, it has since become an enduring annual spring tradition—a collective effort to clean the land and make it beautiful and healthy for the common good. However, the broader tradition of an informal but communal annual spring clean-up once the snows of winter have receeded is a far older tradition.
The date for next year’s Big Cleanup has been set for April 24th, across Latvia and within the diaspora community abroad.
Vita Jaunzeme, organizer of the Big Cleanup said:
“In 2027, the Big Cleanup will take place for the 20th consecutive year. I am convinced that we have accomplished something of lasting historical significance; during this time, an entire generation has grown up with the vision of a clean and green Latvia as an integral part of our society. The high level of public participation and the immense changes achieved serve as proof that we have reached a shift in the collective consciousness of the majority—we aspire to coexist with nature as a single, unified ecosystem for a long time to come. Of course, there will always be those who protest against good and positive initiatives, but that, too, can change over time. I invite everyone who wishes to take part in the 20th Big Cleanup to start thinking about the tasks for next spring.”
In 2008, the then-President of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, became the first patron of the Big Cleanup and he remains a supporter to this day.
“When the organizers of the cleanup first approached me and invited me to get involved, I gladly became a patron of these ideas and expressed my willingness to speak at one of the most heavily polluted sites. I believed it was important to lead by example, encouraging people to pursue these goals—to clean up our land and, over time, make it the cleanest in the world. It was a realization that working together on this is a meaningful endeavour, one that requires ongoing participation year after year to bring about profound change. I hope that Latvia’s experience will inspire others around the world,” he said recently.
Rūta Dimanta, head of the charity organization Ziedot.lv, and singer Katrīna Dimanta have been named Goodwill Ambassadors for the historic 20th anniversary event.
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