There is a legend that has inspired our members, supporters and participants ever since the idea for our organization was born. It was told to co-founder Khalil as he wandered from hostel to hostel to make his idea of swapping meals for plastic bottles a reality. At the hostel Cafe con lege, Khalil met Erwin, a French tourist. Erwin sat comfortably in his armchair in the hostel entrance, listening to Khalil's stories, who was looking for participants for the first Buy Food with Plastic event. The project reminded him of a story: "You are like the hummingbird. An event is just a drop in the ocean, but even from that comes steam and lots of little drops of water." Khalil knew the proverb about a drop in the ocean, but it was a mystery to him how a hummingbird was connected to it. And so Erwin told Khalil the following legend: 

In a small village in the middle of a dense, green rainforest lived a tiny hummingbird. One day, a fire broke out - a blazing inferno that threatened the forest and all its inhabitants. The animals panicked and ran in all directions, but no one knew what to do.

The little hummingbird, however, did not stop. It flew to the nearest river, filled its tiny beak with water and flew back to the fire. Drop by drop, it let the water fall onto the flames. The big animals looked at them and asked: "What do you think you can do, little hummingbird? Your drops are far too small to put out the fire!"

The hummingbird paused, looked at the animals and replied: "I know I can't put out the fire like this, but it's my contribution."

This simple answer touched the hearts of the animals. Although the hummingbird was tiny and his contribution seemed small at first glance, he didn't give up. They acted while others just looked away. And soon the other animals began to help too - each in their own way. Together they fought the fire, drop by drop.

This legend reminds us of the work of Buy Food with Plastic. Sometimes the plastic problem and extreme poverty in the world feels overwhelming, as if our contribution is too small to really make a difference. But like the little hummingbird, we make a difference at every community event. Every plastic bottle we collect, every meal we distribute, is a drop on the big fire. And together - as a community - we manage to put out the fire.

Like the hummingbird, we also show that even the smallest deed can make a big difference. It may have been just Khalil at first, but since then many more people have joined in, all doing their bit too - and so the one hummingbird has become a diverse community working together on this social environmental project to tackle the plastic and hunger problem together.

We try to emphasize this community again and again. That's why we wish to tell you about the people and their stories that have made Buy Food with Plastic what it is today. 

Our journey naturally begins with the hummingbird. As already mentioned, this is the co-founder Khalil. We want to tell you his story first. The idea for Buy Food with Plastic began with him, which spread like wildfire, bringing more and more people together to make the vision of Buy Food with Plastic a reality.

As you will see, the history of our organization is built on countless fateful encounters with people who joined the single hummingbird to tackle two global challenges: hunger and plastic pollution.