Even a small hummingbird can make a difference

There is a legend that has inspired our members, supporters, and participants again and again since the idea for our organization first emerged. It was told to co-founder Khalil as he traveled from hostel to hostel to turn his idea of exchanging meals for plastic bottles into a reality. At the Cafe con lege hostel, Khalil met Erwin, a French tourist. Erwin sat comfortably in his armchair in the hostel lobby, listening to Khalil’s stories as he searched for participants for the first Buy Food with Plastic event. The plan reminded him of a story: “You are like the hummingbird. An event may only be a drop on a hot stone, but even that creates steam and many small drops of water.” Khalil certainly knew the saying about a drop on a hot stone, but he was puzzled as to how a hummingbird could be connected to it. 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 raging 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 stand still. He flew to the nearest river, filled his tiny beak with water, and flew back to the fire. Drop by drop, he let the water fall on the flames. The large animals looked at him and asked, “What do you think you can achieve, little hummingbird? Your drops are far too small to put out the fire!”

The hummingbird paused, looked at the animals, and replied, “I know that I cannot put out the fire this way, but this is my contribution.”

This simple answer touched the animals’ hearts. Although the hummingbird was tiny and his contribution seemed small at first glance, he did not give up. He took action while others just watched. 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 feel overwhelming, as if our contribution is too small to make a real difference. But like the little hummingbird, we make a difference at every community event. Every plastic bottle collected, every meal we distribute, is a drop on the great fire. And together—as a community—we manage to put out the fire.

For, like the hummingbird, we also show that even the smallest deed can achieve great things. In the beginning, it may have only been Khalil, but since then many more people have joined, all of whom also make their contribution—and so the single hummingbird became a colorful, diverse community working together on this social environmental project to tackle the plastic and hunger problem together.

We always try to emphasize this community. For this reason, we want to tell you about the many people and their stories that have made Buy Food with Plastic what it is today. 

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

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