Kaizen Foundation joins forces with Friends of the Earth Malta

 The Kaizen Foundation has announced today a three-year partnership with Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM). FoEM is part of Friends of the Earth, the world’s largest grassroots environmental network with a presence in 74 countries. This collaboration will support FoEM’s efforts to create a hub for environmental education at Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna, a long-term project that aims to highlight the ecological and historical significance of Comino island. The project’s aim is to restore the historic bakery that once sustained the small farming community living on Comino decades ago. The building will be transformed into a zero-impact facility that educates visitors about the island’s unique ecology.

Panos Konstantopoulos, President of the Kaizen Foundation, commented: “This new partnership with Friends of the Earth Malta aligns perfectly with our mission to support long-term, impactful initiatives that improve quality of life. The environment is one of the core pillars of our Foundation and this project on Comino island promotes both environmental awareness and conservation. Aiming to serve as a force for positive change on a global scale, we are delighted that this partnership launches the Kaizen Foundation’s activities in Malta, following projects in Greece, Romania, and Germany. Cooperating with NGOs like FoEM, as well as with local communities is key for bringing about meaningful change and expanding the impact of our support.”

Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna was conceptualised by FoEM’s director, Martin Galea De Giovanni, who came across the bakery as a young adult, while camping with friends. Watching the building fall into neglect, he conceived the idea of turning it into a centre for education about Comino’s natural beauty and historical significance. Comino (Kemmuna in Maltese), a small island in the Maltese archipelago, is home to a wealth of endemic flora and fauna and has been designated as a Natura 2000 site, the highest form of environmental protection in the European Union.

The bakery, located near Santa Maria Bay and surrounded by unspoiled nature (16,400m²), will operate with zero emissions, incorporating renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and waste management systems, thus serving as a model for sustainable development. Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna will host a programme of events designed to connect visitors and communities with the natural landscape of Comino. Activities shall include walks in nature, beekeeping and permaculture workshops, while also celebrating Maltese heritage through traditional bread-making. The restoration will also focus on preserving the bakery’s historic oven, one of the few remaining traditional ovens in Malta. Initial restoration work on the building began in 2024.