Essen's Kindergartens Launch 'Climate and Fair Kita' Initiative with Banana-Themed Event
Essen's kindergartens recently made their first public foray into sustainability and Fair Trade with the 'Climate and Fair Kita' initiative. The project's origins are unclear, but it debuted at the 'Essen erntet' harvest festival with an interactive banana-themed event.
The event, held on October 2nd, 2025, at Gruga Park, traced the journey of bananas from growth to consumption. Organized by daycare centers Mintarder Weg, Kampenstraße, Barthel-Bruyn-Straße, and Mölleneystraße, it aimed to educate visitors about production conditions in banana-growing countries.
The event featured a large world map, real bananas, a photo wall with banana costumes, and age-appropriate information and coloring materials. The participating daycare centers—Barthel-Bruyn-Straße, Brasserstraße, Hildesheimer Straße, Kampenstraße, Mintarder Weg, Portendieckstraße, Raadter Straße, and Mölleneystraße—hope to integrate sustainability and Fair Trade into daycare life and sensitize families to global issues.
The 'Climate and Fair Kita' initiative, though its origins remain unclear, has brought a focus on sustainability and Fair Trade to Essen's kindergartens. Its debut event at the 'Essen erntet' harvest festival was a successful first step, with more public appearances and sensitization efforts planned for the future.
