The campus of Nangarhar University in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, was cleaned up for the first time in three decades, thanks to the work of more than 500 volunteers recruited by the Afghanistan Municipal Strengthening Program (AMSP) implemented by ICMA. Armed with trash bags, receptacles, and equipment, the volunteers included students, professors, the dean of the faculty and the academic vice chancellor of the university, the head of the local Youth in Action organization, and members of the local Rotary Club.

"Our city is our home; let's keep it clean and safe!" said Attahullah Shinwari, the vice chancellor, while briefing the participants. Abdul Hakim, deputy mayor of Jalalabad, urged citizens, especially the university students, to support local government services by participating in cleaning their city and helping to keep it clean. He also asked the students to broaden public awareness about local government services and assured citizens that the municipality would do its best to make improvements.

The deputy mayor continued, "Thanks to the USAID-funded AMSP for helping the Jalalabad municipality build the capacity of its staff to improve the quality of life for citizens by better responding to the needs of the community." Volunteer efforts like this build community, improve relationships between citizens, and create a positive connection between municipality staff and residents.

For the past year ICMA (through AMSP) has helped Jalalabad improve city services and the quality of life for residents, working in close collaboration with the mayor and city staff in order to build their knowledge and skills. As a result, residents enjoy the immediate benefits of a clean city, and the city gains the capacity to sustain these improvements long after the program eventually ends.

More information, see the Afghanistan page on ICMA's Web site, or e-mail international@icma.org.