Nepalese lead estate clean-up

Thirteen youngsters, aged between four and 19, have helped put a sense of pride back in their new home by collecting sacks of rubbish during a two-hour clean-up in Rose Hill.

The group was armed with litter-picking sticks and were supervised by four adults during their clean-up of The Oval and Lenthall Road.

Co-organiser Chitri Thapa has lived in Rose Hill for five years.

He said: “We have been very pleased with the response.

“Rose Hill looks a bit cleaner and it was very nice to see the children cleaning up and I would like to motivate all children and young people to have pride in their area and keep the area clean.

“I’m proud of the children who turned up to help.”

Benita Thebe, 14, of Dashwood Road, who took part in the litter-pick, said: “It was fun to go collect all the litter.

“It felt good to make our community look better, especially when we saw all the litter in the sacks at the end.

“It really needed a clean-up and we had tonnes of bags and loads of litter.

“It’s important because everything we do goes to making Oxford cleaner.”

Alisha Thapa, 15, of Rivermead Road, said: “It was good.

“We have to walk along these roads every day to get to the bus stop or park and it’s good for everyone around us.

“If it’s messy then you don’t feel good to live in this area but if you clean it up now and again it’s going to be good for everyone.

“I like doing it. We got to meet friends and stuff and you don’t get bored by it.”

Rose Hill city councillor Antonia Bance, board member for regeneration and community development, said: “I have met members of our Nepalese community on a number of occasions.

“They are hugely community-spirited on Rose Hill.

“They are a relatively new community in the city but with a huge tradition of armed service and within our city there are many families who have relatives who are serving or have served for our country.

“They are a hugely dynamic community and it sounds like they have been doing more good work in Rose Hill.”