Hing Sang Sang Together: Bhutan’s Clean-Up Movement Reaches Indonesia

In celebration of World Environment Week, the Hing Sang Sang Together Initiative marked a major milestone by partnering with the UN office in Indonesia to extend the campaign’s vision beyond Bhutan’s borders. On 22 June 2025, 35 enthusiastic participants in Indonesia joined the clean-up initiative, collecting 22 bags of waste, around 45.1 kilograms, from public spaces in their local communities. This cross-border collaboration is a powerful reminder that environmental responsibility transcends national boundaries and that the dream of a waste-free world can unite people and communities across continents.

The spirit of collective action that defines Hing Sang Sang Together was born in Bhutan, where the campaign began on 6 September 2024 with a simple but ambitious goal: to clean up our surroundings, protect natural streams and waterways, and inspire others to do the same. The name Hing Sang Sang, meaning United, We Can, reflects a deep cultural belief that small, everyday actions, when multiplied across communities, can lead to transformative change.

From large-scale mobilizations with hundreds of volunteers cleaning major city streets, rivers, and school premises, to small, focused clean-ups led by a handful of determined citizens, the movement has steadily gained momentum. Schools, government agencies, local businesses, development partners, youth networks, and UN offices have come together under this banner, each contributing time, resources, and collective energy. Community leaders and volunteers have gone door to door to spread awareness, children have championed waste segregation at home, and local artists have used murals and street art to spark conversations about sustainability.

Each action, whether collecting a single bag of waste or a ton, has strengthened the broader shift in mindset that Hing Sang Sang champions, that real impact is not a one-time effort but a habit, sustained by consistent action and a shared sense of responsibility for our environment. By taking this message to Indonesia and forging new partnerships, the initiative has shown that the drive for clean communities and healthy ecosystems can cross borders, cultures, and languages.