In Halandri, toddlers become food-saving ambassadors through storytelling, performance, and a nursery-wide movement to fight food waste and promote sustainability.
EARLY EDUCATION AGAINST FOOD WASTE
Food waste in nurseries often goes unnoticed, but it has real environmental and financial costs. In 2022, the city’s Food Loss and Waste Prevention Unit (FLWPU) discovered that there were almost no tools to help children aged two to four understand the value of food and why it shouldn’t be wasted. To change this, the municipality teamed up with the Food Bank of Greece to introduce The Dream—a bilingual fairy tale by Beatriki Saia-Magrizou, with illustrations by Iphigenia Sdoukou. Using a charming ant community as an allegory, the story gently introduces young children to ideas of environmental stewardship, shared responsibility, and mindful food use.
LEARNING THROUGH STORIES AND PERFORMANCE
The Dream was brought to life through classroom activities and live performances during summer celebrations, with around 700 children, educators, and guardians directly or indirectly involved. Teachers integrated the story into daily learning, and children acted out the tale—engaging emotionally and creatively with its core message. Parents embraced the initiative, and the project quickly became a catalyst for shifting attitudes toward food waste across the nursery community.
AMPLIFYING IMPACT THROUGH YOUNG AMBASSADORS
By engaging children as active participants, the initiative turned nurseries into food-saving ecosystems. Young participants acted as ambassadors and multipliers, spreading awareness at home and beyond. The project’s visibility extended through the municipality’s website and the FLWPU’s social media, increasing its reach and public engagement. This creative, community-rooted approach shows how early childhood education can drive long-term behavioural change in the fight against food waste.
