In the Hafsia neighborhood in the Medina quarter of Tunis, rubbish piles up and spreads in front of the blue door of a crumbling building, the result of a lack of trash bins and timely garbage collection. Instead of continuing to contribute to the growth of the makeshift dump, residents took matters into their own hands on Oct. 20. Rahma Ameri, a graphic designer wearing disposable gloves donated by a local hairdresser, led a group of volunteer litter-pickers and street-sweepers to clear away the heap.

“It is up to us,” Ameri told Al-Monitor. “The municipality takes care to clean up the tourist areas, but we don't have historic places here. It’s just a working-class neighborhood, so we don’t get the same attention.” 

Since the run-off presidential election held Oct. 13 elevated the outsider Kais Saied to Tunisia's presidency, cleaning campaigns and painting initiatives have been popping up around the country, organized via Facebook. A national call to action took place on Oct. 20. Photos of the results of the various campaigns showcase spick-and-span streets, painted pavement and new murals and fill Tunisian news feeds with a myriad of hashtags, among them “we want to clean our country,” “the people want clean roads,” “a state of consciousness” and simply “tun.”

The movement has left some bystanders baffled. “What is going on?” asked Mander Dimassi, a Hafsia resident and musician. “It’s been dirty for years! This isn’t normal.”