800 Students Join Forces for a Plastic-Free Cyprus

CSTI Successfully Completes the “Schools for Change” Project

Around 800 primary school students from three schools across Cyprus participated in the successful completion of “Schools for Change: Pioneers on the Road to Plastic-Free”, an initiative of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) implemented in partnership with the TUI Care Foundation as part of the international “Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free” programme.

The project was supported by the Cyprus Environment Foundation through funding from the Conservation Collective, made possible by its collaboration with Depeche Mode and Hublot as part of the Memento Mori World Tour. Activities implemented at Agios Athanasios Primary School were additionally funded by Island Oil Holdings.

During the 2025–2026 school year, students from Agios Athanasios Primary School (Limassol), Peyia Primary School (Paphos) and Frenaros Primary School (Famagusta District) participated in the educational programme “Mission: A Plastic-Free Planet”, gaining first-hand knowledge of plastic pollution while taking practical action to protect the environment.

Moving beyond classroom learning, students surveyed and recorded plastic litter along Cyprus's coastline, participated in beach clean-up activities, explored the importance of recycling and reuse, and transformed discarded materials into creative works of art.

The programme also delivered lasting benefits to the participating schools. Each school was equipped with a filtered drinking water station, providing a practical alternative to single-use plastic bottles. In addition, all students and teachers received reusable water bottles, helping to reduce everyday plastic waste.

The initiative addresses a growing global challenge. Plastic pollution is no longer solely an environmental issue; it is also a public health concern. Scientific research has detected microplastics in drinking water, food and even the air we breathe. It is estimated that the average person may ingest up to five grams of plastic every week-roughly the weight of a credit card.

For Cyprus, tackling plastic pollution is particularly important. Clean beaches and healthy seas are among the country's most valuable natural assets and remain one of the main reasons millions of visitors choose Cyprus each year. Protecting them means safeguarding both the quality of life of local communities and the long-term sustainability of the country's tourism sector.

One of the project's greatest achievements was empowering students to become ambassadors for change within their communities. Through school exhibitions, celebrations and public events, they showcased their projects and encouraged their families and local communities to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.

Among the highlights was the artwork created by students at Frenaros Primary School, who used approximately 400 plastic bottle caps to create two large watermelon slices. The installation was showcased at the Frenaros Watermelon Festival before an audience of more than 8,000 visitors, demonstrating how recycling and creative reuse can inspire environmental awareness.

Students at Agios Athanasios Primary School created an impressive installation depicting Mother Earth, featuring rivers, forests, birds and wildlife, entirely from recycled plastic waste collected through the school's recycling programme. The artwork was presented during the school's end-of-year celebration, titled "The Earth and Your Eyes", highlighting the creative potential of reuse.

Meanwhile, students at Peyia Primary School designed an artwork entitled "The Parachute", using approximately 800 plastic bottle caps. Presented during the programme's closing event, the installation demonstrated how imagination, collaboration and recycled materials can come together to create something meaningful.

All artworks will remain permanently displayed at the participating schools, serving as lasting reminders of the importance of recycling, reuse and collective environmental responsibility.

The project demonstrated that environmental education changes more than knowledge-it changes behaviour. A reusable water bottle, one less plastic bag or one plastic bottle kept out of the sea may seem like small actions, but when repeated every day by hundreds of students, teachers and families, they become a powerful force for positive change.

CSTI extends its sincere gratitude to the Cyprus Environment Foundation for its trust and support, as well as to all project funders and partners whose valuable contributions made this initiative possible.

Through projects such as “Schools for Change”, CSTI continues to promote sustainability, protect Cyprus's natural environment and inspire a new generation of environmentally responsible citizens, contributing to a cleaner, more resilient and more sustainable tourism destination for future generations.