The interactive event titled “Nothing Goes to Waste! The Secret of Compost – Saving Food, Caring for the Earth!” was successfully held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the 3rd Primary School of Naoussa “Galakeia.”

The activity was organized within the framework of the “Responsible Consumers of Tomorrow” initiative of the PLAYFOOD project, implemented by the EduQuest Non-Profit Organization in collaboration with the 3rd Primary School of Naoussa “Galakeia.”

The event aimed to raise awareness among students and educators about food waste and the importance of composting, promoting sustainable consumption practices and environmental responsibility.

NAOUSSA, GREECE – At the historic sites of the School of Aristotle and among the resting machinery of the Naoussa Industrial Heritage Centre, our local history is preparing to “speak” a new language. While these sites are the heart of our identity, many young people today feel disconnected from them. EduQuest, based in the Heroic City of Naoussa, is launching the HUP Hackathon (Heritage Understanding & Participation), a 24-month initiative that aims to turn teenagers from simple visitors into creators of their own history.

Through intensive “design sprints” (hackathons), teenagers aged 10-16 will work alongside experts to discover the emotional stories hidden behind our monuments. Using simple digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI), these young people will visualize their own ideas, proving that tradition can be both modern and deeply personal.

This effort is the result of a broad European collaboration, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Coordinated by the Designathon Works Foundation (Netherlands), EduQuest leads the implementation in Greece in close collaboration with the Municipality of Naoussa, working with partners from Slovenia (Razvojna Agencija Kozjansko), Belgium (Change Of Course and Stad Kortrijk), Portugal (Fundação EDP), and the Netherlands (Stichting Het Nieuwe Instituut). Strategic guidance is also provided by Interpret Europe (Germany) and Grand-Expo (Ukraine).

This initiative seeks to leave a meaningful footprint in our city. Through their participation, Naoussa’s teenagers will gain valuable digital skills and a new creative confidence, building a stronger connection with their local community. Meanwhile, the professionals at our cultural sites will be trained in modern participatory methods, ensuring our museums remain vibrant and attractive to future generations. This work will lead to the creation of innovative applications and activities that bring our history to life in new ways. The knowledge produced here will be shared worldwide through open guides and educational videos, establishing Naoussa as a reference point for heritage revitalization in the digital age.

With a mission to bridge the gender gap in science and spark innovation in education, the EduQuest team successfully completed its training expedition in Genoa, Italy. Hosted at the Scuola di Robotica, a European center of excellence, this initiative was part of the EITIC-EU project.

Joined by partners from Italy, Spain, and Greece (including the 1st EPAL of Ymittos), we focused on mastering new methodologies that blend Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

A core pillar of the program was highlighting iconic women as role models. Participants learned how to weave the stories of pioneers like astronaut Ellen Ochoa, computer scientist Grace Hopper, and urbanist Jane Jacobs into their teaching. Through workshops like the “Grace Hopper Debug Dash”, we explored ways to inspire girls to claim their space in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Learning by Doing The program went far beyond theory, featuring intensive, hands-on workshops such as:

• “Pitch Perfect Planet”: Building skills to present environmental solutions.
• “Mission Possible”: Solving complex problems using technology.
• “Dream Up Your City Block”: Modeling urban interventions based on inclusion and sustainability.

Naoussa as a Case Study: Green Design & Inclusion In the practical segment of the “Dream Up Your City Block” workshop, Naoussa—and specifically its central square—served as the primary case study. Recognizing local climate conditions (intense sunshine, air currents), our working groups developed proposals along two key axes:

1. Greening & Microclimate: Inspired by Kate Orff’s philosophy of “designing with nature,” we proposed transforming the square into a friendlier ecosystem. Ideas included creating natural shading zones with trees (“playground under the trees”) to lower temperatures and make the space more accessible and pleasant, especially during the hot summer months.
2. Accessibility Without Exclusions: Guided by Jane Jacobs’ vision for lively and safe neighborhoods, we prioritized the movement of people with disabilities. We proposed gentle interventions to slow down vehicle traffic and create safe pathways for pedestrians, ensuring the city is welcoming to the elderly, parents with strollers, and those with mobility challenges.

EduQuest is committed to bringing this knowledge back to the educational community of Naousa with a dual purpose: to inspire more girls to pursue science and technology, and to teach students how to design solutions with empathy. For us, a “smart city” isn’t just digital; it is a city that respects the environment and, above all, has room for everyone, without exclusions.

EduQuest announces the launch of the European project |CAPaware: Bottom-up participatory activities for future Common Agricultural Policies”, implemented under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme of the European Union with a duration of 24 months.

CAPaware aims to empower citizens, particularly rural youth, farmers, educators, and local stakeholders, to play an active and meaningful role in shaping the present and future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Despite the importance of the CAP for sustainable rural development, food security, and environmental protection, significant gaps remain in public understanding and participation. CAPaware seeks to address these challenges by translating complex European policies into clear, accessible, and participatory actions.

The project adopts a transnational approach across Greece and Italy and includes:

• baseline research and citizens’ needs analysis,
• targeted communication and storytelling initiatives,
• public events and participatory engagement activities,
• educational interventions and capacity-building actions,
• cross-border study visits for knowledge exchange.

Special emphasis is placed on youth, gender equality, and inclusion, ensuring that diverse social groups contribute to shaping policies that directly affect their future.

Among its key outcomes, CAPaware will produce citizen-informed policy recommendations, open-access educational resources, and digital content, contributing to the long-term strengthening of democratic participation and trust in European institutions.

The project is coordinated by EDUQUEST, in partnership with CBioHub – Circular Bioeconomy Hub (Greece) and U.P.I. Emilia-Romagna (Italy).

The interactive event titled “Healthy Eating in Primary Education” was successfully held on Monday, January 26, 2026 at the Municipal Library of Naoussa, with enthusiastic participation from children and parents.

The event marked the first activity of the initiative “Responsible Consumers of Tomorrow” within the framework of the PLAYFOOD project, implemented by the non-profit organization EduQuest in collaboration with the 3rd Primary School of Naoussa “Galakeia”.

Children of primary school age, along with their parents, had the opportunity to take part in a hands-on, experiential workshop where learning was combined with play, teamwork, and creative expression. Through various activities, students explored the main food groups, discussed the importance of balanced nutrition, and discovered how simple daily choices can contribute to proper growth and overall well-being.