WHU Students Help Clean the River Rhine

Plastic, glass bottles, paper, and a whole bunch of junk—those who signed up for this year’s RhineCleanUp certainly had their work cut out for them. The nationwide initiative took place once again on September 14, 2024, and saw countless volunteers clear trash from the banks of the Rhine River and other waters, a strenuous but rewarding task. Among the volunteers were 50 students from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, in particular the members of the student-led clubs SensAbility – The WHU Impact Summit and WHUSH (WHU Students Help e. V.). For some two hours, they took to the segments of the river in Vallendar and Niederwerth, equipped with trash bags and ready to remove what others had so carelessly discarded. “It’s nice to be able to do something for the community,” said Krish Kumar (BSc 2026), General Manager at SensAbility, at the end of the day.  “We want to ensure that the place where we live is clean.” The town’s residents, particularly those of the older generation, expressed their thanks to the students for their hard work.

That the water level was so low during the initiative was of advantage to the volunteers, as they were able to remove items that would have otherwise been unreachable. “We’re trying to have a lasting positive effect on the community,” said Kumar. “With our SensAbility conference, we think on a national level and have our eyes on the bigger picture. But we also want to show that you can get involved and do something good for the environment right at home.” 

The students were in high spirits, showing that even the messiest of jobs can be fun. Before they got started, they met for brunch, where many (particularly the school’s youngest undergrads) got to know each other better. And they are currently in deliberation over whether to participate in RhineCleanUp every six months as opposed to every year. Many of WHU’s students are active volunteers in several local projects. Some, for example, volunteer as tutors for school children while others organize fundraising campaigns.