Overview: Helping out in Ukraine
Bill Willoughby, co-founder of National Cleanup Day and a board member of Let’s Do It World, traveled to the war-torn country to try and make life a little bit better for Ukranians
There are many places in the world one could travel – if time and money were no issue.
Given the tragic, violent conditions on the ground in recent years, it is safe to say that Ukraine is currently not a major tourism destination.
That said, one College Area resident made it his mission recently to make life slightly better on the ground for Ukrainians fighting for survival against Russian aggression in their homeland.
A bridge on the outskirts of Kyiv was destroyed in 2022
by the Russians, which was full of people fleeing Kyiv. It is now a national monument. (Photo by Bill Willoughby)
Bill Willoughby, co-founder of National Cleanup Day and a board member of Let’s Do It World, traveled to the war-torn country to try and make life a bit better for Ukrainians.
The events bring together communities around the United States and the world every third Saturday in September to rid communities of trash.
In doing so, it can help communities better their surroundings not only in the present, but down the road as well.
Last month, Ukraine was the focal point of World Cleanup Day, with Kyiv serving as the coordination center and headquarters for the event. Part of that coordination included setting up a call center.
“Every year, Let’s Do It World hosts a media call center and calls our partners all over the world during the cleanup they are doing on the ground,” Willoughby said.
“Each year over 100 million people are picking up trash for World Cleanup Day on September 20, and the call center is how we showcase the amazing work our network is doing.”
As part of his journey, Willoughby provided support, leadership, and solidarity for the event, meant to bring a little bit of normalcy back to the lives of everyday Ukrainians.
That special September day was followed 24 hours later by recognizing the International World Day of Peace.
Willoughby noted that choosing Ukraine for the 2025 event was not a difficult decision.
A recent Russian drone strike in the suburbs of Kyiv. A mother and her son were killed in the strike. (Photo by Bill Willoughby)
“This year deciding to host it in Kyiv, Ukraine was an easy choice,” Willoughby said. “We have a massive network of volunteers in Ukraine, that despite the war have continued to clean up their communities, and have used their resources to support humanitarian work in the country.
“The Ukrainian government supported us and allowed us to show up in Ukraine in full force, despite the ongoing war.”
Given that Willoughby is on the board of Let’s Do It World, he has joined several call centers in the past. Despite the ongoing challenges in Kyiv, doing it in a war zone was not a first for him either.
“I was in Vietnam during the war as a civilian contractor, and I knew we needed to be there for our colleagues and partners in Ukraine,” Willoughby said. “Despite the risks, our organization calls for hope, healing, and peace, and being in Ukraine was the place we needed to be.”
Going to this part of Ukraine was a first for Willoughby, however.
Bill’s 79th birthday celebration in Kyiv, with people from Let’s Do It Ukraine, with a traditional Ukrainian birthday cake. (Photo courtesy of Bill Willoughby)
“It was my first time in Kyiv, and I was shocked with how it was just like any other major European city I’ve been to,” Willoughby said. “A beautiful city with incredible architecture featuring pioneers for freedom.”
“Despite the air raids that forced us underground several times a day, the people of Ukraine are so incredibly resilient, and to them, the air raids were a minor inconvenience to daily life. It was almost like bad traffic to them.”
Willoughby says that it is obvious that Russia is losing the mind game in Ukraine – and thus, the war.
“Despite the daily bombings and air raids, the Ukrainian spirit is far from broken,” Willoughby said.
“The Ukrainian people were so extraordinarily happy that we were there for both World Cleanup Day and International Day of Peace on September 21… both cleaning up the country from waste and plastic pollution, but also calling for the end of this pointless war.”
While the cleanup was the focus, Willoughby wanted to make sure that people do not forget what Ukrainians have been going through, now for years.
“I’ve lived in and through several wars throughout my life, and my message for the world is this: War is just absolutely pointless. There is no reason for this siege on the Ukrainians, and it’s a devastating waste of life on all sides,” Willoughby said.
“The resilience and strength the Ukrainians have needs to be known to the world.”
For those thinking about next year’s World Cleanup Day, the event takes place each Sept. 20.
“We continue to support cleanups that happen on every corner of the planet,” Willoughby said. “Our goal is to create a waste-free world, and we will support that goal no matter where it takes us.”
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