Clean Espoo,
Green Espoo.
A youth-led litter collection project that turns caring for public space into a visible, repeatable civic norm — starting in Espoo and designed to grow.
The idea
Climate action that starts on the street outside.
Large-scale climate conversations are important. But for many young people, the most immediate and actionable form of environmental care is the one closest to home — the park, the path, the neighbourhood street.
Clean Espoo, Green Espoo is deliberately low-threshold: a group of young people walks a planned route and collects litter together. No equipment barriers, no expertise required, no complicated logistics. Just showing up, doing something visible and useful, and making it normal to care about the shared space you live in.
The visibility matters as much as the litter collected. When young people are seen cleaning public space, it challenges the assumption that they don't care — and it invites others to join.
How it works
Simple by design. Scalable by intent.
Pre-planned routes
Each cleanup follows a decided route through a specific area — giving structure to the activity and making it easy for new people to join without orientation.
Youth-led throughout
Organised and run by young people — not adults managing youth participation. The ownership and initiative stay with the group doing the work.
No barrier to entry
No specialist equipment, no prior commitment, no membership required. Show up, walk, collect. The simplicity is the point — it needs to be easy to repeat.
Where it goes
Espoo first. Designed to scale.
The project begins in Espoo, where Kansanhuuto is based and where local community relationships already exist. The model is intentionally simple so that it can be replicated by any group of young people in any municipality without needing to reinvent the structure.
As the project develops, we are interested in connecting with schools, student organisations, and youth groups in other areas who want to run their own version — sharing what works and building a broader network of young people who take visible responsibility for their public space.
Want to get involved?
Join a cleanup, organise one, or bring the model to your area.
Contact us directly or sign up as a volunteer.