MADmax & Mariam: Recycling was at the heart of everything we did...

Mariam Sanikidze, ESAI EN ROI Esai en Roi Volunteer; || Georgian

ESC volunteering in teams  MADmax project   15/07/2026 to 04/08/2026

2025-1-EL02-ESC51-VTJ-000346873

From 15 July to 4 August, I had the opportunity to take part in an inspiring volunteering project in Thessaloniki focused on sustainability, creativity, and community.

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Together, we created a pond to help restore the garden's ecosystem and transformed an abandoned park by building a summer bar entirely from reused materials, giving the space a new sense of life and purpose.

Recycling was at the heart of everything we did. We repurposed discarded materials to build the summer bar and created artworks from waste for both the school garden and the park, showing how creativity can turn "trash" into something meaningful.

One of the most memorable parts of the project was creating a contemporary dance performance in the abandoned buildings of the former military park. By bringing art into this forgotten space, we hoped to attract visitors and raise awareness of the park's potential. Located in a suburban area, the park holds valuable natural and cultural resources that could greatly benefit the local community if revitalized.

Throughout the project, we discussed the environmental challenges Thessaloniki faces and explored practical ways to make the city greener and more sustainable.

We concluded the experience with an international symposium, where participants shared and compared the recycling systems of their home countries, exchanging ideas and learning from one another.

This project reminded me that meaningful change often begins with small actions, collaboration, and the willingness to see potential where others see waste.