From Local Meetup to Global Recognition: A World Environment Day Thank-You from UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)!

Connections & celebrations
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Hi Local Guides :waving_hand:

Hi everyone, hope you’re all having a wonderful week! :glowing_star: I’m dropping by today to share a lovely little surprise that popped up in my inbox yesterday :open_mailbox_with_raised_flag:, and honestly, just to pass along a quick bit of encouragement for anyone thinking about hosting a meetup soon. :sparkles:

For World Environment Day, I hosted a local meetup focused on how Local Guides contribute to and make a difference in our communities, along with an insightful session on composting at home! :fallen_leaf::recycling_symbol: I was incredibly fortunate to have Jakarta Local Guides @Andito_PW join us as our featured speaker, sharing his wonderful insights on how we can better advocate for our local environments. :deciduous_tree:

World Environment Day

Because I wanted our collective efforts to be counted, I registered the meetup on the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) platform under our community’s name: “Local Guides.”

Recap Virtual Meet Up World Environment Day 2026

Yesterday, UNEP sent over an official, personalized thank-you card. :scroll: When I opened it, what touched my heart the most was the text on the card. It didn’t have my name on it; it simply read:

“Thank you, Local Guides.” :green_heart:

Thank you notes from UNEP, screen shot by doc_dells
Thank you notes from UNEP, screen shot by doc_dells720×1506 178 KB

Seeing our community name on an official UN document was an incredibly proud yet humbling moment. :face_holding_back_tears: This little action looks simple, but I think it is worth sharing our work in commemoration of World Environment Day on global platforms. :globe_showing_europe_africa::rocket:

It made me think of the countless Local Guides right here on Connect who spent that same week taking action, whether through educational posts, community talks, or hands-on green initiatives. :backpack::seedling: You all put in the work, and this card truly reflects the dedication of our entire global community! :handshake::heart:

If there is one practical takeaway I can share, it is the value of registering our local community events with these broader global campaigns. A lot of our day-to-day impact as Local Guides happens quietly on the ground. By mapping our actions onto global platforms, we ensure that the collective data and effort of our community are visible, counted, and recognized on a much larger scale. :world_map::round_pushpin:

Thank you to everyone here for everything you do to make our local communities and our world a better place today and every day! This win belongs to all of us! :raising_hands:

#Lets Guide

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Wow @doc_dells I feel incredible on your getting the unique card recognition for Local Guides and very very happy to be a part of your initiative. Thank you very very much and you deserve a big applause. You made us Local Guides shine globally.

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Heartiest congratulations, @doc_dells!
This is an incredibly proud and humbling moment for our entire global community. Seeing the words ‘Thank you, Local Guides’ on an official UNEP document is a massive win for all of us!

I know exactly how incredible and emotional it feels when your local efforts get recognized on such a massive international platform, I felt that exact same immense pride when Local Guides from Pakistan were featured in a BBC documentary, and I was one of them.
It is moments like these that make all the voluntary hours on the ground feel absolutely worth it.

Thank you for representing our community so beautifully on a global scale, and for inspiring us all to link our local impact with global campaigns.
Keep up the phenomenal work!

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ا لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة ومجتمع المرشدين المحليين على تقدير قوة العمل المحلي.

بصفتنا مرشدين محليين، لدينا فرصة لتوثيق مجتمعاتنا، وإبراز الأماكن الطبيعية، وتشجيع الناس على حماية البيئة والتراث الثقافي.

كل صورة ومراجعة وقصة يمكن أن تلهم الوعي والتغيير الإيجابي. فخور بأن أكون جزءًا من مجتمع عالمي يربط الناس بالأماكن ويدعم مستقبلًا أفضل لكوكبنا

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hi ma @Gurukrishnapriya Thank you so much for the kind words and amazing support! :glowing_star: This achievement isn’t just mine; it belongs to all of us in the Local Guides community. I’m so grateful and proud to grow alongside such an incredible group. Cheers to all of us making an impact together!

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@KashifMisidia Thanks for your kind words; they mean the world to me. :raising_hands: Seeing our collective efforts recognized by UNEP is truly a proud moment for all of us.

You said it perfectly; knowing how much passion and voluntary work everyone puts in on the ground makes moments like this feel so deeply rewarding. I remember the incredible milestone when Pakistani Local Guides were featured on the BBC, and that same shared pride continues to inspire so many of us!

Thank you for being such an inspiring voice in our community and for always leading by example. Here’s to continuing our local impact together globally!

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Spot on! @ObadaMaps56 Every contribution we make on the ground really does add up to something much bigger. Having our efforts celebrated by UNEP and local mentoring communities reinforces why we do what we do every day. Let’s keep documenting, protecting, and making a difference together!

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