About us
About the project
Modern Grandma is a European Solidarity Corps project created to address one of the most urgent environmental and social challenges affecting communities today: food waste. The project was developed by Youth Estia in Veroia, Greece, with the aim of promoting more sustainable food habits, encouraging responsible consumption and empowering young people to take action for the common good.
Food waste has serious consequences for the environment, the economy and society. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, wastes valuable natural resources such as water, land and energy, and increases pressure on communities already facing food insecurity. Modern Grandma responds to this challenge by bringing together young people, local stakeholders and the wider community to rethink the way food is consumed, valued and reused in everyday life.
The project is inspired by a familiar figure in Greek culture: the grandmother who cooks with care, creativity and love, making the most of every ingredient. Modern Grandma transforms this traditional wisdom into a modern approach to sustainability, showing that reducing food waste can begin with simple daily choices and shared community action.
Through awareness-raising activities, research, community dialogue and creative cooking initiatives, the project encourages people to adopt sustainable habits while strengthening solidarity, participation and local cooperation. At the same time, it gives young people the opportunity to build valuable skills in communication, teamwork, project management, digital dissemination and civic engagement.
Modern Grandma contributes to broader European and global priorities related to environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, social inclusion and responsible consumption. By connecting traditional knowledge with modern environmental awareness, the project aims to create a more resilient, informed and caring local community.
Modern Grandma Activities
The Modern Grandma project is built around a structured series of activities that combine research, awareness-raising, community participation and creative action. Each phase of the project contributes to a wider process of learning, engagement and local impact, helping participants and stakeholders better understand the issue of food waste and explore practical ways to address it.
The project begins with internal planning and coordination activities, including a project management meeting and a communication and dissemination planning process. These first steps ensure that the team is aligned on the project’s goals, timeline, responsibilities and outreach strategy.
A central part of the project is the research phase, which includes both online research and community-based fieldwork in Veroia. Through literature review, surveys, interviews and local mapping, the team will identify the main causes and effects of food waste in the community and gather material that will later be transformed into educational resources.
The project then moves into a phase of stakeholder engagement through the organisation and facilitation of a roundtable activity. This event will bring together community members, food-related actors, local organisations and other stakeholders to discuss food waste, exchange ideas and identify possible local solutions and collaborations.
Another important activity is the cooking competition focused on the use of leftover ingredients. This interactive event is designed to raise awareness in an engaging and practical way, while encouraging creativity, sustainable cooking practices and active participation from the community.
The final stages of the project include the creation and promotion of the Modern Grandma Cookbook, which will gather recipes, tips, facts and stories collected throughout the project. The cookbook will serve as a lasting educational and awareness-raising result, making the project’s knowledge and creative outcomes accessible to a wider audience.
Why Modern Grandma Matters ?
Food waste is not only an environmental issue but also a social, economic and cultural challenge. Large amounts of food are wasted every day by households, restaurants, retailers and other actors, while at the same time many people face economic difficulties and food insecurity. This contradiction highlights the urgent need for more responsible food systems and more conscious everyday habits.
Modern Grandma matters because it addresses this issue at community level, turning a global challenge into a local opportunity for learning, cooperation and action. By encouraging citizens to reflect on their food choices and by promoting practical ways to reduce waste, the project contributes to environmental protection, community solidarity and more sustainable lifestyles.
The project is also important because it empowers young people to become active participants in social and environmental change. Through their involvement in research, event organisation, communication activities and content creation, young participants strengthen both their civic role and their practical competences.
At the same time, Modern Grandma shows that traditional knowledge can still offer meaningful answers to modern problems. By connecting the values of care, creativity and resourcefulness with current sustainability challenges, the project creates a message that is both culturally familiar and socially relevant.
In doing so, Modern Grandma supports the objectives of the European Solidarity Corps, especially in the fields of environmental sustainability, youth participation, social inclusion and community engagement. It also contributes to wider goals linked to SDG 2, SDG 12, and SDG 13, promoting a more sustainable and equitable future.
