Finding a purpose in Cyprus has transformed Niklas Wilhelm’s life, as he embarks on a mission to clean up the island’s littered beaches and natural spots.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
- Finding a purpose in Cyprus has transformed Niklas Wilhelm's life, as he embarks on a mission to clean up the island's littered beaches and natural spots.
Originally from southern Germany, 31-year-old Niklas left behind a life that no longer felt fulfilling. He openly admits, “I wasn’t happy in Germany anymore in terms of a lot of things; it’s not a place where I want to raise my future kids.” With a desire for change, he set his sights on Malta, where he first experienced island life. However, it was a friend’s account of the kindness found in Cyprus that ultimately drew him to Larnaca.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
“I visited Cyprus soon after and took the decision to move here,” he recalls. Embracing his role as a digital nomad, Niklas established a marketing agency that allowed him the flexibility to work from anywhere, and soon found himself in Limassol. “I wasn’t looking for a purpose; I never thought that after four months of being here, I would be picking up trash and adopting a cat!”
His journey began when he started cleaning up his favourite hangout, a beach he affectionately calls the power beach. “I posted my first video about the cleanup, where I talked about why I was doing it, and people reached out wanting to help.” This simple act of sharing his passion sparked a movement; strangers from various countries joined forces to make a difference.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
“The feeling was absolutely amazing; to know that you can bring people together for a good reason, through social media,” he explains. The need to tackle littering, which he describes as a “calamity” on the island, became his driving force. “This beautiful island is so polluted… I have visited many hidden places here, like rivers and dams, and noticed that they are very polluted.”
With each cleanup, Niklas found satisfaction in seeing the tangible results of his efforts. “Once I had cleaned the power beach of mostly cigarette butts and small items, it felt pretty satisfying to see that I did something for a place I love. I realised there was a lot of trash in other natural areas too.”
What began as personal sentiment quickly expanded into a broader mission. Niklas began choosing cleanup sites strategically, targeting areas where rubbish would likely end up in the sea if left unattended. “I’m getting to know places that are very polluted where, most probably, people will never pick it up,” he says, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Now leading a group of over 90 volunteers, Niklas has organised cleanups across the island, including Paphos, Larnaca, and Nicosia. “We already did three cleanups in Paphos, we were in Limassol four to five times, and we even went to Ayia Napa.” Together, they have collected over four tonnes of waste, revealing the extent of the problem. “When we do cleanups, there’s more than 20 big 100kg trash bags, and sometimes we find crazy things like a toilet or garden furniture.”
While Niklas admits he is not yet familiar with the recycling processes in Cyprus, he is eager to learn more. “The first step is picking it up; the second part is disposal and recycling,” he notes. He is in discussions with a company in Greece about recycling methods that could be implemented in Cyprus.
His vision extends beyond cleanups; he aims to educate younger generations about environmental responsibility. “I want to teach other members of the younger generation to take responsibility for the environment,” he shares. Partnering with local NGOs, he supports initiatives working on educational programmes, such as the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative.
Utilising the power of social media, Niklas has made it his mission to raise awareness. “My only power is to make videos and engage people; the more popular the videos get, the more awareness I can spread.” He embraces a unique approach, going topless during cleanups to combine fun with a serious message: “Make picking up litter cool.”
His unconventional style has drawn both positive and negative attention, but it hasn’t deterred him. “At the end of the day, if you combine it with a person or a mission behind it, people become fans of the mission and try to change their behaviour.”
Despite his success in rallying volunteers, Niklas has noticed a discrepancy in participation. “Out of the 90 volunteers in my group, a maximum of 20 are Cypriots.” He believes that local pride may hinder some from joining forces with a foreigner. “It would be better to have a Cypriot who approached them,” he suggests, musing on how to bridge that gap.
Yet, unwavering in his commitment, Niklas continues to inspire others. “If everybody picked up one piece of trash every day, it would really make a difference.” He emphasises the community-building aspect of cleanups, noting that friendships often blossom during these efforts. “You do good for nature, you’re connecting with great people, and you bring people together who become really good friends.”
