The Tiganokinisi program, implemented by the AKTI Project and Research Centre in collaboration with the Unit of Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD) of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY), has managed to secure one of the six finalist positions in the global awards for green skills.

The Green Skills Award 2026 is organized by the European Training Foundation (ETF), aiming to showcase and reward innovative stories, programs, and educational initiatives that equip citizens with green skills for a sustainable and circular economy.

The three winners will be announced following an open public vote, which concludes on June 30.

The voting link is: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/GSA2026Vote

The Tiganokinisi program started as a pilot in 2012 with the participation of five schools and, 14 years later, more than 530 schools of all educational levels participate in it, along with 168 supporting bodies (local authorities, organizations, businesses, etc.) that donate used cooking oil to the schools.

Since the start of the program, over 1,100 tons of used cooking oil have been collected and converted into biodiesel. The financial return of the program from the sale of used cooking oil exceeded €800,000, an amount allocated proportionally to each school based on the quantity it collected.

The funds were invested by the schools into sustainability practices, contributing to date to the implementation of over 1,500 green infrastructures and actions.

The innovative Tiganokinisi program serves as an example of a circular economy, as well as a model of synergy between the public and private sectors and broader social partners. It constitutes a best practice for developing networks of cooperation and communication between the school, the community, and other stakeholders involved in the environment and sustainability.