Climate change is no longer a distant issue; it is a pressing reality shaping our everyday lives – from rising temperatures and environmental degradation to food insecurity and even mental health challenges.
According to UNICEF, children are among the most vulnerable and impacted the most, thus underscoring the urgency of addressing environmental issues through education and community action.
In Malta, approximately 22% of food bought is wasted, according to the NSO, while a study by Daniel Vella (2016) reported that 52.1% of municipal solid waste consisted of food.
More recently, according to a 2025 analysis by Friends of the Earth Malta of the latest Eurostat data, Malta ranked fifth among EU countries for per capita food waste, with 162kg per person – 30kg above the European average.
These figures highlight the urgent need for greater awareness and action around sustainable food practices, especially from a young age.
At Child Educare Services, we believe that the most profound seeds of change are sown early. That’s why at Ilwien Childcare Centre, we have launched our latest project called ‘Little Sprouts, Big Steps: Growing a Sustainable Future’.
This initiative unites two urgent themes – growing food and reducing food waste – through hands-on exploration and meaningful community engagement. In line with the Eco-Schools programme and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, our aim is to instil environmental awareness not through instruction, but through curiosity, play and lived experience.
Supported by our committed partners – Nature Trust-FEE Malta, the NGO that manages Eco-Schools Malta, and Lidl Malta – we’ve been able to offer rich, multisensory learning opportunities through tools, seeds, resources and funding that bring the project to life.
Sowing seeds through play and discovery
At the heart of ‘Little Sprouts, Big Steps’ are our children, who engage in daily outdoor learning in our spacious garden. Whether they’re digging in the soil, observing insects under leaves or simply watching their seeds grow, they are forming a relationship with the natural world.
Educators followed the children’s developmental stages and interests, crafting activities that were both scientific and creative. From painting with crushed basil leaves and berry juice, to making banana cake with overripe fruit, children explored textures, colours, smells and the message that waste can be repurposed with purpose.
One memorable activity involved creating mini greenhouses, where children planted seeds and observed their growth. During another activity, they crushed wheat and mixed it with water to create simple dough – developing an appreciation for the journey from land to table.
Equally vital to the project’s success has been the active involvement of parents. Families contributed kitchen scraps for composting, participated in food waste audits and joined in interactive sessions such as marmalade-making using recycled jars and Seville oranges from our citrus trees.
This experience was enriched with storytelling – Paddington Bear and a themed tea party added a magical layer to the activity, making it both memorable and meaningful.
The close bond between home and school reinforces children’s learning and ensures that sustainable habits are not limited to the classroom. In sharing these experiences with their children, parents are showing them that climate action begins in their own kitchens and gardens.
Respecting nature, big and small
As part of fostering a sense of respect and wonder for the environment, children explored the life cycles around them – from planting and caring for trees, to observing worms, snails and pollinators in our garden. Through our vermicomposting station, they learned about the ecosystem beneath their feet, confronting bugs not with fear but with fascination.
Our goal is not only to reduce food waste but to nurture empathy for the living world – a mindset that will help shape the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
We invite the wider community to follow our journey and support young children in becoming stewards of the Earth, one small step, one little sprout at a time!
Abigail Church is manager of Child Educare Services at the University of Malta.
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