The Challenge
Improper waste management is a major driver of global water pollution, with pharmaceuticals emerging as a particularly toxic but often invisible threat to aquatic ecosystems. In Greece, millions of medicine boxes expire unused every year, and a lack of public awareness means many are flushed or thrown into common bins, eventually leaching into the water cycle.
In the Cyclades, this chemical pollution directly disrupts the reproductive health and physiology of marine species, threatening the delicate marine food web. Without systematic intervention, this “invisible” pollution continues to damage the very marine environments that sustain the islands’ economy and public health.
The Solution
MEDforSEA addresses this challenge by empowering school communities to participate in a circular medicine management system. Building on the success of CPF’s previous grants to MEDforSEA, this second round incorporates lessons learned to further mobilize students, teachers, and local stakeholders in Naxos and Paros. By coordinating the collection of unused, unexpired medicines for donation to social pharmacies and educating the youth on proper disposal of expired ones, the project simultaneously reduces waste and prevents pollutants from reaching the sea.
This initiative, enhanced by a new partnership with KEPEA of Syros, creates a replicable model that protects aquatic life through behavioral change and social solidarity.
Activities
With the support of the Cyclades Preservation Fund, GIVMED will:
- Deliver interactive workshops to primary students (Grades 4-6) on the impact of pharmaceutical pollution.
- Coordinate school-based collection drives for unused, unexpired medicines to be donated to local social pharmacies.
- Mobilize local stakeholders, including municipalities and media, to promote responsible disposal habits island-wide.
- Collaborate with KEPEA to design and analyze questionnaires that measure shifts in students’ environmental knowledge.
About the Grantees
GIVMED is a non-profit organization aiming to facilitate access to medicines for all. People can donate medicine they no longer need to their network of social pharmacies, nursing homes and other public benefit entities.
KEPEA Hermoupolis is an educational center focused on promoting environmental awareness and sustainability among students and the local community. Through experiential learning and collaborative programs, it fosters a deeper connection with nature and encourages responsible environmental stewardship.
What You Can Do
- Check your home medicine cabinet regularly and donate items before they expire.
- Ensure all expired medications are returned to a pharmacy for safe, specialized disposal.
- Encourage your local school to participate in environmental awareness programs regarding waste management.
- Make a donation here to help us bring this educational initiative to other islands of Cyclades and the Aegean.
SDGs
CPF’s grants support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This grant specifically supports:
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The project promotes sustainable management of household medicine, reducing waste through donation.
- SDG 14: Life Below Water – By preventing pharmaceutical pollutants from entering the sea, the project directly protects marine species.
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Donating medicines to social pharmacies improves access to healthcare for vulnerable groups on the islands
