The founding story of Buy Food with Plastic – how it all began….

As announced in the blog post about the legend of the hummingbird, we want to share the stories behind Buy Food with Plastic with you. As announced, we are starting today with the hummingbird, whose drive and courage inspired other animals to come together as a community to tackle hunger and plastic pollution. 

It all began in the summer of 2018. Khalil flew to Nicaragua for a three-month surfing holiday. As we know Khalil, he had no trouble striking up conversations with the locals. From them, he learned about the challenges of their daily lives. Parents could no longer feed their children, and everywhere in nature he saw plastic bottles and litter lying around. There were no trash cans, so the locals threw their trash into nature.

Instead of turning his back on these circumstances, Khalil pondered the problems. And on one of his daily walks to the beach, a creative solution came to mind. He imagined a simple event that could connect the two urgent problems:

An event where people could bring plastic bottles and exchange them for a meal. However, this was still just an idea that needed to be put into action. Khalil was also unsure at first about taking this step. Organizing such an event requires resources, volunteers and participants. In Jaffet, an employee of the bungalow where he stayed, he found an ally. His support strengthened Khalil's resolve to give his idea a chance.

Together they organized the very first unofficial Buy Food with Plastic-Event in the community of La Virgen de la Morena in Nicaragua. They had hardly any resources. Financial resources came from Khalil's own savings and from donations from friends and family. Furthermore, neither Khalil nor Jaffet had experience in organizing events. What they did have, however, was a vision and the determination to grow beyond themselves for the good of the community. And so they embarked on their endeavor to organize the very first event where people could exchange plastic bottles for a warm meal. 

Khalil visited many places to promote the planned event among tourists and the local population. This is how one day he also visited the hostel where he first heard the legend of the hummingbird. When the day, July 3, came, the response was overwhelming: 180 people showed up, each with bags full of plastic bottles. Children, mothers, fathers – they all brought their collected bottles and received a warm meal in return. Over 2,000 plastic bottles were collected, and new job opportunities were created for 12 people from the community.

And then? It was just a surfing holiday after all. Normally, you fly home, where everyday life takes over again, and you remember the beautiful, relaxing time. For Anna, Xenia, Elena, and Lena, four of Khalil's friends, that was out of the question. They learned about the event in Nicaragua through Instagram and were excited. Khalil remained skeptical. He was still studying, others were working, no one was in Nicaragua, and the funding for such events hung in the balance.

But the legend of the hummingbird was about how the hummingbird inspired others to take action. It was not about how the hummingbird did everything alone. And that is exactly how it was. Jeff called Khalil a week after the event. Children visited him to find out when the next event would take place. They already had plastic bottles collected in bags, ready to exchange them for a warm meal.

Khalil, our initiator, co-founder, and hummingbird, was moved by the enthusiasm of the children he had ignited with the event. The skepticism faded and courage returned. The hummingbird was not alone. Anna, Lena, Xenia, and Elena were there. Jeff on the other side of the earth was there, and above all, the children were there. On October 8, 2018, they together formed a Swiss association. Everyone took on a task, which suddenly made this huge task, extinguishing the fire in the legend of the hummingbird, seem not quite so impossible. Everyone called their loved ones together, which is why many friends and acquaintances gathered around Khalil, the hummingbird, to support him in his work.

This led to the second event, and then the third. Further encounters arose, which made Buy Food with Plastic what the organization is today: A global movement of many incredible people who have established sustainable economic cycles in three countries and thereby give people new opportunities through small, concrete actions. 

It all began with a walk on the beach and an idea, with a little hummingbird (Khalil), who took the first step with the help of his female friends (Anna, Lena, Alena, and Xenia). One person alone cannot solve the world's problems, but many people together unite a great power of impact, which can create solutions. 

As can be seen on our website and other social media, Buy Food with Plastic does not just consist of Khalil, Anna, Lena, Alena, and Xenia. Many have joined the organization since then. In the coming months, we will introduce some of them to you. Next in line are Kwame and Shakti, our Country Managers from India and Ghana. You should definitely read how we met these two great people, because they are two special stories.