Somewhere in Greece …

        carrot: ”and when Ι was a baby carrot Ι wanted to be a big carrot..”
cucumber: ”Wait”
        carrot: ”…living in the farm with my”
cucumber: ”Shhh, I hear wheels……Wow, I knew it! It’s time!”
        carrot: ”What’s going on?”
cucumber: ”The EWWR 2024 van!! I have to catch it now ! Byeee Carroto, I’ll miss you”
        carrot: ”Hey Cucumbero stop, where are you going? Explain to me, Hey”
cucumber: ”My dream Carroto, I want to become a tzatziki salad! Remember?”
        carrot: ”Whaaat? Not again…Our shapes are not…”
cucumber: ”This time is different my friend. There is an audition for all!”
        carrot: ”Wait, where can I find you? Wait!”
cucumber: ”haF…da……ataaa”
        carrot: ”I can’t hear you. Where?”
cucumber: ”Athens! haFOODa matata!”

Athens is ready to welcome the European Week for Waste Reduction 2024. The City of Athens organizes a set of “haFOODa matata’’ actions around this year’s central theme ‘’Food waste is out of taste’’, with the aim of spreading the message to Athenian citizens and hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.

Inspired by the original phrase ‘hakuna matata’ and the spirit of enjoying life with no worries, “haFOODa matata” could be interpreted as “Enjoy your food, without waste”. This playful and memorable phrase encourages all of us to be more mindful of how we handle food, aiming for less waste and more enjoyment. Nevertheless, some of the actions extend beyond food waste to include general waste reduction and recycling initiatives.

So what will be done?

Action 1: Animated video titled “haFOODa matata”,  specifically created for the EWWR 2024
Action 2: Promotion of the animated video in public, high-traffic areas of the city: digital display at bus stops and metro stations
Action 3: haFOODA matata, the event! A small community of experiential workshops for children at “Serafio”, one of the most modern Centers for Culture and Innovation in Athens.
Action 4: Photo Exhibition “BE A PART OF RECYCLING’’
-Setup of the Exhibition at “Sintagma Metro Station”, the Central Metro Station in Athens heart
-QR Code: Directing to the City of Athens’ website beapartofrecycling.gr
– Digital Exhibition Display: Showing the digital version of the exhibition on train and platform screens of metro
Action 5: Lighting of the Athens City Hall and placement of the EWWR banners at the main entrance

The actions in detail:

Action 1: Animated video titled “haFOODa matata”
The script is based on the central theme of food waste, featuring fruits and vegetables that are usually not selected by consumers due to their imperfect appearance. Through an audition, they end up starring in the City of Athens’ Action 3.

Action2: Promotion of the animated video
The second action involves the promotion of the animated video in public, high-traffic areas of the city as a means to raise awareness among citizens and visitors. Specifically, the video will be shown: 1) at modern public bus stops within the City of Athens that support digital video display and 2) on the screens of the trains and platforms of the metro.

Action 3: haFOODa matata, the event! 18/11/2024 – 21/11/2024
Primary school students of the City of Athens will be informed not only about the need of reducing food waste but the value of biowaste as well.. They will take on adult roles in groups (farmer, hotel owner, market vendor, etc.), within a small community of experiential workshops, set up at “Serafio”, one of the most modern Centers for Culture and Innovation in Athens. It will be actually a small community of 9 wooden constructions, a simulation of real daily biowaste production areas.
Wooden Constructions/ Workshops:
The Stations will be as follows:

1. Farmers’ Market
2. Café-Restaurant
3. Hotel
4. Field
5. House
6. Flower Shop
7. City of Athens
8. Composting Factory
9. Landfill

Action 4: Photo Exhibition “BE A PART OF RECYCLING’’
The exhibition “BE A PART OF RECYCLING” is an effort of the Directorate of Cleaning Services & Recycling of the City of Athens that aims to inform and raise awareness about recycling, through surreal photographs of today, but possible realistic images of tomorrow. Reducing and separating waste concerns us all. Citizens, visitors and businesses of the city, we are all invited to contribute to the circular economy and to “become active members” of the recycling chain. A short walk at “Sintagma Metro Station”, the Central Metro Station in Athens heart, can be the inspiration to reflect on the way we manage waste and from today become part of a cleaner and sustainable future. You too can turn your “trash” into a treasure for tomorrow! The action includes:
-Setup of the Exhibition at “Sintagma Metro Station”
–QR Code: Directing to the website beapartofrecycling.gr, where everyone can find further information about food waste and other kinds of waste.
– Digital Exhibition Display: Showing the digital version of the exhibition on train and platform screens of metro

Action 5: Lighting of the Athens City Hall
The Athens City Hall is an important building in the center of Athens, a landmark where many city activities are announced. During the European Week for Waste Reduction, it will be lighted up and EWWR banners will decorate the main entrance, as another way to spread the central theme “Food waste is out of taste”.

Let’s… haFOODa matata!