Spring Cleanup: Volunteering as everyday peace work

Peace is not an abstract concept. It comes alive where people show up for each other. Under the motto "Gratitude through action", volunteers from different cultures and backgrounds took shared responsibility for their district. Especially moving: children from the immediate neighbourhood spontaneously joined in. Without being asked, they grabbed gloves and bin bags and worked side by side with adults from Austria and Nigeria. In a single afternoon, what social cohesion really means became visible.

"For us, peace starts with how we treat our environment and each other," said a representative of HWPL Austria. "When we take responsibility for our neighbourhood, we strengthen the sense of community. This cleanup is a small but valuable step toward a more peaceful and sustainable future for everyone living in Favoriten."

The cooperation between HWPL Austria and NUNSA underlines the international spirit of the district and represents an understanding of integration that doesn't happen in conference halls but on the street, shoulder to shoulder. The action marks the start of further community initiatives HWPL Austria plans for 2026, with the goal of letting dialogue, encounter and trust between people in Vienna keep growing.