Diaspora youth to clean up Israel, promote conservation

Four participants in Masa Israel’s government fellowship program will lead an initiative to pick up litter in communities throughout Israel, as well as educating about recycling, sustainability, and environmental protection.

Clean the Land, which will take place on May 18, is a grassroots project that seeks to encourage a more eco-friendly nation.

It was born in an entrepreneurship workshop during Masa Israel’s Building Future Leadership (BFL), an intensive leadership week that brought together 400 young adults from around the world this March. During a brainstorming session at BFL led by PresenTense, the creators — Max Friedenberg, 23, a University of Illinois graduate from Illinois; Sam Silverlieb, 26, a Harvard University graduate from New Jersey; Joel Wanger, 24, a Northeastern University graduate from Maryland; and Daniel Barnett, 26, a University of Sydney graduate from South Africa — decided to model the initiative after the annual Clean Up Australia Day.

As part of the initiative, Clean the Land secured garbage bags and gloves, which will be distributed to the communities taking part in the effort, from the Israel Securities Authority.

For more information about Clean the Land, visit www.cleantheland.org.