On 20 September 2025, Ukraine for the first time became the global centre of World Cleanup Day, led by Let’s Do It World (LDIW). Together with Let’s Do It Ukraine, LDIW set up a Call and Media Centre with a global Broadcast studio in Kyiv—to act as the central hub for coordinating events across the whole world.
The event ensured that global attention was drawn to pressing environmental challenges and issues of sustainable development. Ukraine’s resilience and determination to restore the environment even under the conditions of full-scale war became an example and inspiration for other countries. The International Call and Media Centre became a symbol of solidarity, uniting nations and partners in the pursuit of a clean and safe future. Thanks to its work, millions of international viewers received information about the campaign through partner media and social networks, supported by dozens of live connections with leaders worldwide.
Heidi Solba, President and CEO of Let’s Do It World, described the impact of the broadcast: “The broadcast from Kyiv became a true window into the global World Cleanup Day movement. We witnessed the unity of 190 countries acting on the same day for a common goal—a clean planet.”
She continued: “This synchronicity proved that international solidarity can overcome any challenge. Ukraine, despite all difficulties, demonstrated resilience and inspired the world: the power of volunteers, the power of communities, and the power of unity among nations can change the future of our planet.”
In the lead-up to World Cleanup Day, intensive preparations for the global centre and its live broadcast were underway for several months. This ensured that the studio could operate simultaneously from Kyiv and Rome, bringing together on one platform the founders and leaders of Let’s Do It World, the Let’s Do It Ukraine team, Kyiv24 news channel, an Estonian production company, directors, TV hosts, entrepreneurs, public figures, students, and schoolchildren.
More than 100 volunteers from different cities of Ukraine joined the work of the International Call and Media Centre, coordinating efforts in several key areas:
Thanks to the effort of all Call and Media Centre teams, it was possible to create an international studio with a live broadcast. Watch the Broadcast recordings here, and share them across all your channels!
The broadcast opened with addresses by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, followed by interviews with coordinators and experts from more than 30 countries. Viewers saw video stories from China, Australia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Latvia, France, Tanzania, Brazil, and other nations, learning about global environmental initiatives. The programme concluded with a summary of the day’s results, festive performances, and a message of unity in the pursuit of a clean and safe planet.
Speakers of the international studio included Heidi Solba—President and CEO of Let’s Do It World, World Cleanup Day; Iuliia Markhel—National Coordinator of World Cleanup Day in Ukraine, and leader of Let’s Do It Ukraine; Annely Kolk—Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine; Michael Capponi—President and Founder of Global Empowerment Mission; and Sergii Vlasenko—former Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
Simultaneous studios in English and Ukrainian ensured accessibility for the international audience. The event also featured a press conference. The broadcast was opened and closed with musical performances by singers from Estonia and Ukraine, symbolising unity and cultural exchange between nations. Special highlights included performances by Tom Soda, Kamaliya, Diana Gloster, and Birgid Täht.
The main challenge for the organising committee was the full-scale war, daily dangers, and curfews which made night-time preparations impossible. Despite this, with the support of partners, the team managed to keep the work continuous—truly making the impossible possible. The coordination centre was placed underground at the iHub, a hub for startups and tech companies, allowing operations to continue even during air raids, while following strict safety protocols.
During safe hours, live broadcasts were held from the streets of Kyiv, while parallel cleanups took place in parks and recreational areas, along with public surveys on the importance of environmental initiatives. Some volunteers spent over twenty hours travelling to reach the centre, others worked underground in shelters and even slept in the metro—yet the broadcast never stopped for a single moment. This became a powerful symbol of Ukrainians’ resilience and their ability to unite the world even in the hardest of times.
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Iuliia Markhel, Leader of Let’s Do It Ukraine, shares her deep gratitude to all the partners who helped make the impossible possible: “We sincerely thank you for the trust and the opportunity to host international activities here in Kyiv. Gratitude goes to the team, volunteers, partners, and all participants—and especially to the leaders of the global network, whose efforts unite millions of people in different countries for a common goal.”
She continues: “The International Call and Media Centre in Kyiv became a platform of unity, where people and nations gathered around the idea of a clean and safe environment. Nature knows no borders, and the consequences of war affect everyone—from people to ecosystems. Their restoration will take years, but thanks to global cooperation, we can already begin to restore balance in nature, strengthen international solidarity, and lay the foundation for a sustainable future for the next generations.”
The exclusive online broadcast was led by the Estonian TV technology team, led by Martin Grand, with experience working on all World Cleanup Days to date. Thanks to a great partnership with the Kyiv TV channel team, it was possible to organise live reports directly from the streets of the capital, maintain stable connections, and create a full-fledged television broadcast in Kyiv.
Additional information support was offered by KyivInform Press Centre. Kyiv host Denys Cholovskyi and Let’s Do It World President Heidi Solba led the live coverage from Ukraine, while Colm Flynn joined from the Vatican, coordinating live connections from across all continents. This gave the broadcast a truly global scale and turned it into a powerful symbol of international unity.
Essential support also came from the business community. iHub opened its doors to volunteers, providing a safe working space from the end of curfew until its start, and sometimes even during it. Meanwhile, Halushka restaurant generously provided free meals for the international team, adding warmth and care to the common cause while also showcasing Ukrainian culture, cuisine, traditions, and art.
In Kyiv, World Cleanup Day took place with the support of the Kyiv City State Administration, the Department of Territorial Control of Kyiv, and the Department of Public Communications of Kyiv City State Administration. Thanks to this collaboration, Ukraine proudly stood on the international stage, representing the country as a symbol of strength, recovery, and global unity.
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