• Since the beginning of the year, Rayan Khan has taken on his free time to maintain the streets of Paris and "clean up the environment".

  • “In Paris, there is work”, this young man of 21 who starts with the capital but intends to extend his action to the whole of Ile-de-France.

  • This Saturday, he renews his action in the capital.

Last weekend, some of you may have noticed that the street in front of the Monoprix entrance in Beaugrenelle (Paris 14th) was cleaner.

They can thank Rayan Khan, an "everyday hero", according to Marie-Pierre Bigot who met him in front of the store.

The 21-year-old has plans to beautify the capital by clearing it of its waste.

“And there is work,” he says.

Rayan lives in Noisy-le-Sec, in Seine-Saint-Denis, a city he finds "much less pretty than Paris".

He intends to extend his action in Ile-de-France, as far as his Navigo allows him.

“I first believed in a city cleaner, the first time I saw him, explains Marie-Pierre.

Then I noticed his young age, and he didn't have a city vest, so I went to talk to him.

This former director of communication, involved in the association Citoyennes, Citoyens de Paris 14, decided to publicize the civic action of the young man.

" And why not me ?

»

“I was hanging out on YouTube and came across videos of people cleaning up the environment.

At that moment, I said to myself: “And why not me?

“”, says Rayan.

Without waiting, he goes to Leroy-Merlin, buys garbage bags, gloves and pliers to pick up waste.

Maintenance equipment is no stranger to it.

During the week, he works in an ESAT, an establishment for people with disabilities.

Regularly, he is responsible for the maintenance of business premises.

His action seems natural to him.

He concedes that “cleanliness is his thing”.

On the ground, he finds cigarette butts, above all, but also boxes of cigarettes, cans, plastic bags and cardboard boxes.

"It's important to pick them up because leaving them on the ground has an impact on the environment," he warns.

"People stop in the street to congratulate me but it doesn't go any further"

“I love Paris but the city is getting dirtier and dirtier,” laments Marie-Pierre.

An observation shared by many Parisians, testifies to the growing scale of the #saccageparis movement.

Many are those who welcome the action of Rayan.

“I shared his story on LinkedIn and he received many messages of support,” she comments.

“Often, people stop in the street to congratulate me, confirms the young man.

But that doesn't go any further.

»

Our dossier better living in the city

“No one agrees to come and clean with us,” regrets Marie-Pierre Bigot, who now joins Rayan on certain weekends.

But, the young man refuses to push people to do like him.

“I do it because I like this activity.

If people want to do it too, we will clean up faster and good for the planet.

He is renewing his action this Saturday, in Paris.

If you feel like throwing your cigarette butt in the corner, think of him and the environment.

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  • Paris

  • Waste

  • Environment

  • Youth

  • Noisy le Sec

  • Ile-de-France

  • Live better in the city

  • Citizenship