“General Weekend”, cleaning to feel at home
In just a few years, “General Weekend” has become the largest waste collection and environmental awareness campaign in North Macedonia. Its inspiration was an Austrian music producer in love with the country and a Macedonian woman
General-Weekend-pulire-per-sentirsi-a-casa-1
Skopje - © Shutterstock
For several years now, Hannes Jaeckl has been recognized by the residents of North Macedonia as a foreigner who has contributed to and cares about a clean environment in their country more than they do themselves.
This Austrian citizen, together with his Macedonian partner, Sofia Gordana, has been starting eco-actions since 2020: five years later these are the largest in the country, collecting thousands of tons of litter scattered in nature and throughout populated areas.
"General Weekend" is the title of their garbage collection action, which is supported and implemented by most municipalities, and is also supported by the non-governmental sector and state institutions. The first action was carried out in ten municipalities, and five years later in May 2025, as many as 79 joined in a more comprehensive cleaning of their urban and rural environments.
According to 52-year-old Hannes, "General Weekend" is recording historic figures. If the first year a thousand volunteers participated, now 55,627 people have contributed to cleaning up their surroundings. Even President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova joined this action this year and collected waste at the Skopje aqueduct.
“This year we collected more than 650,000 kilograms across the country at more than 600 locations simultaneously in just one weekend. This also shows us the problem with waste,” said Hannes in Tetovo, the first of seven cities where exhibitions with photos of the activities were held in June, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of “General Weekend”.
Even though Hanes is a foreign citizen, it must be emphasized that in every interview with the Macedonian media, he lovingly states that he perceives North Macedonia as his own country. He believes that in addition to raising awareness for a clean environment, it is necessary for people to feel responsible for their own country.
"Responsible people who love their country do not destroy it intentionally. True patriotism is manifested only in how you treat your community and your environment. This is not something that only young people can learn, but adults should also understand.
"General Weekend" is an action by citizens for citizens and the greatest demonstration of patriotism in our country, says Hanes in an interview with the newspaper Vecer.
He also has an interesting idea – by 2031, when North Macedonia will mark 40 years of independence, the country should be clean and over a million new trees should be planted.
Hannes has lived in many countries and on several continents, but when he came to North Macedonia in 2019, he literally fell in love with the country. He believes that, despite many challenges, he has never seen a more beautiful country than North Macedonia.
“He sees huge potential here. That’s why we started. We wanted to invest all our energy and experience, the little knowledge we have acquired, both professionally and in life, into something that will bring good to everyone,” says Gordana Sofia in an interview with the newspaper.
According to both, there is progress in the country on this issue. Moving through the cities, they saw that there are cities in the eastern part of the country where there are no longer even cigarette butts thrown on the streets, and they are happy that more and more households are selecting and recycling waste.
Hannes and Gordana also try to point out the need for recycling waste in order to reduce as much as possible the quantities of waste that could end up in landfills, which exist in huge numbers in the country and represent the most massive environmental problem.
"Landfills are a concept from ancient times, with the difference that they did not have the materials that we use today. The things we throw into landfills are made of materials that will not only degrade in the next millions of years, but also poison the water we drink and the air we breathe. Therefore, we must introduce a circular system, waste should be recycled or converted into green energy”, they told the media in North Macedonia.
Hanes Jaeckl is a music producer by profession, while Gordana Sofija is a journalist. Their company capitalises on their long-term experience in production and promotion of artists from all over the world, as well as their creative writing and organization skills, to make the world a better place to live.
“General Weekend”, cleaning to feel at home
In just a few years, “General Weekend” has become the largest waste collection and environmental awareness campaign in North Macedonia. Its inspiration was an Austrian music producer in love with the country and a Macedonian woman
General-Weekend-pulire-per-sentirsi-a-casa-1
Skopje - © Shutterstock
For several years now, Hannes Jaeckl has been recognized by the residents of North Macedonia as a foreigner who has contributed to and cares about a clean environment in their country more than they do themselves.
This Austrian citizen, together with his Macedonian partner, Sofia Gordana, has been starting eco-actions since 2020: five years later these are the largest in the country, collecting thousands of tons of litter scattered in nature and throughout populated areas.
"General Weekend" is the title of their garbage collection action, which is supported and implemented by most municipalities, and is also supported by the non-governmental sector and state institutions. The first action was carried out in ten municipalities, and five years later in May 2025, as many as 79 joined in a more comprehensive cleaning of their urban and rural environments.
According to 52-year-old Hannes, "General Weekend" is recording historic figures. If the first year a thousand volunteers participated, now 55,627 people have contributed to cleaning up their surroundings. Even President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova joined this action this year and collected waste at the Skopje aqueduct.
“This year we collected more than 650,000 kilograms across the country at more than 600 locations simultaneously in just one weekend. This also shows us the problem with waste,” said Hannes in Tetovo, the first of seven cities where exhibitions with photos of the activities were held in June, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of “General Weekend”.
Even though Hanes is a foreign citizen, it must be emphasized that in every interview with the Macedonian media, he lovingly states that he perceives North Macedonia as his own country. He believes that in addition to raising awareness for a clean environment, it is necessary for people to feel responsible for their own country.
"Responsible people who love their country do not destroy it intentionally. True patriotism is manifested only in how you treat your community and your environment. This is not something that only young people can learn, but adults should also understand.
"General Weekend" is an action by citizens for citizens and the greatest demonstration of patriotism in our country, says Hanes in an interview with the newspaper Vecer.
He also has an interesting idea – by 2031, when North Macedonia will mark 40 years of independence, the country should be clean and over a million new trees should be planted.
Hannes has lived in many countries and on several continents, but when he came to North Macedonia in 2019, he literally fell in love with the country. He believes that, despite many challenges, he has never seen a more beautiful country than North Macedonia.
“He sees huge potential here. That’s why we started. We wanted to invest all our energy and experience, the little knowledge we have acquired, both professionally and in life, into something that will bring good to everyone,” says Gordana Sofia in an interview with the newspaper.
According to both, there is progress in the country on this issue. Moving through the cities, they saw that there are cities in the eastern part of the country where there are no longer even cigarette butts thrown on the streets, and they are happy that more and more households are selecting and recycling waste.
Hannes and Gordana also try to point out the need for recycling waste in order to reduce as much as possible the quantities of waste that could end up in landfills, which exist in huge numbers in the country and represent the most massive environmental problem.
"Landfills are a concept from ancient times, with the difference that they did not have the materials that we use today. The things we throw into landfills are made of materials that will not only degrade in the next millions of years, but also poison the water we drink and the air we breathe. Therefore, we must introduce a circular system, waste should be recycled or converted into green energy”, they told the media in North Macedonia.
Hanes Jaeckl is a music producer by profession, while Gordana Sofija is a journalist. Their company capitalises on their long-term experience in production and promotion of artists from all over the world, as well as their creative writing and organization skills, to make the world a better place to live.
