Clean Streets, Safer Youth: HWPL and Partners Take on Drug Abuse in Lusaka

 When people think about peacebuilding, they often picture treaties, summits, or diplomats around a table. But sometimes peace looks like something much simpler: a group of young volunteers picking up trash along a market road, talking to their peers about saying no to drugs, and choosing to protect their own community.

That's exactly what happened in Zambia this past June, when the Zambia branch of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), together with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the Youth Empowerment for Peace and Wellbeing Working Group (YEPW), launched a campaign called "Clean Up, Crime Down" in the Mandevu area of Lusaka.

Marking a Global Day with Local Action

The event was timed to coincide with the United Nations' International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Rather than simply raising awareness through slogans, organizers built a program that combined two things directly connected in many communities: substance abuse and environmental neglect. The idea was straightforward — a cleaner, safer physical environment supports a community less vulnerable to crime and drug abuse, especially among young people.

Bringing Everyone to the Table

What stands out about this campaign is the sheer range of groups that came together to support it. A total of 102 participants took part, including youth, community leaders, representatives of Zambia's Interfaith Networking Group, faith leaders, and public health officials.

The event was co-hosted by five organizations: the Department of National Guidance and Religious Affairs under the Office of the Vice President, the Lusaka City Council's Public Health Department, the Mental Health and Anti-Drug Abuse organization (MHADA), the Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company, and the Zambia Interfaith Networking Group. Additional support came from Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission, the Lusaka City Youth Council, and the University of Zambia — a genuinely broad coalition of government, academia, health, and faith communities working toward one goal.

Education First, Then Action

The day began with drug-prevention education. IPYG coordinator Betty Phiri spoke to participants about why avoiding drugs is a responsible choice that protects a young person's health, education, relationships, and future — and how even small acts, like refusing drugs or helping a friend make better choices, can be a genuine expression of peace in everyday life. Pastor Sakala Emmanuel of Life Assemblies of God also addressed the youth, offering words of encouragement on behalf of Ng'ombe's local churches and clergy.

Turning Words Into a Cleaner Community

After the educational session, participants moved into action, cleaning up the stretch between Ng'ombe Clinic and New Ngombe Market. Using collection trucks and equipment provided by the Lusaka City Council and local partners, volunteers cleared litter from the area. Simon Phiri, chairperson of New Ngombe Market, joined in alongside market vendors — a sign that the cleanup wasn't just an outside initiative, but one embraced by the people who live and work there every day.

One of the participants, Lusaka City youth councilor Nkisu Katemangwe, said working alongside volunteers who were genuinely dedicated to their community was motivating, and that it deepened a sense of responsibility to keep protecting the local environment going forward.

A Model Worth Repeating

The campaign's collaborative structure — youth groups, local government, health and environmental agencies, anti-drug organizations, and religious leaders all pulling in the same direction — drew media attention, with coverage from Zambia's national and private broadcasters ZNBC, Crown TV, and Prime TV.

HWPL's Zambia branch plans to keep the momentum going, running "Clean Up, Crime Down" as a monthly campaign with the goal of eventually reaching all 38 wards of Lusaka.

Part of a Larger Vision

This local initiative connects to HWPL's broader mission of ending war and building a culture of peace worldwide, through peace education, interfaith harmony, and advocacy for international law. The organization's 2016 Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) lays out principles for preventing and resolving conflict, and this Lusaka campaign reflects Article 10 of the DPCW, which calls for spreading a culture of peace.

Community efforts like this one show what that principle can look like in practice: not just an abstract commitment to peace, but people showing up, cleaning a street, and looking out for their neighbors' health and future.

Those who want to support peacebuilding efforts like this one can learn more and get involved as a peace member through HWPL's official website.

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