21/03/2026
Between 14 and 15 March, Friends of the Earth Malta held its third Comino Environmental Education youth camp, Kamp Kemmuna: Edizzjoni Rebbiegħa. Following two successful camps in 2025, this marked the organisation’s first visit to Comino for the year and the third edition of the initiative, themed around spring in the hope of milder weather. Despite conditions that reminded everyone that winter had not yet fully passed, the camp was a great success, bringing together over 20 young participants at the historic bakery. The site is currently being managed and restored by Friends of the Earth Malta, with the long-term goal of transforming it into an environmental education hub on the Natura 2000 island.
Kamp Kemmuna is designed to foster environmental action and land stewardship among young people through a two-day programme packed with workshops and activities. These sessions promote sustainability, climate action, and land conservation, among other environmental themes. At its core, the weekend offered participants a chance to slow down, unwind, and reconnect with nature, away from the pressures of everyday urban life.
On the first day, the group explored Comino’s wild landscapes in search of native orchids, recording two species not previously documented on the island. This discovery highlights Comino’s importance as a natural reserve and its role in showcasing Maltese biodiversity. The walk was conducted in collaboration with the Wild for Orchids community. The day continued with a workshop on coastline protection, held in partnership with the Pro-Coast initiative, and concluded with an information session on light pollution and its effects on biodiversity. This was followed by a stargazing session during which participants observed Jupiter, deepening their appreciation of both natural and cosmic environments. Both the nature walk and the stargazing session were organised through the National STEM Community Fund of Xjenza Malta, which operates Esplora Interactive Science Centre on behalf of the National STEM Engagement Working Group. Through this support, the NGO was also able to install wildlife cameras to monitor activity on the island.
The second day built on the themes of slow living and mindful engagement with nature. The morning began with a walk and meditation session amidst Comino’s pristine landscapes, followed by a beekeeping workshop at the NGO’s hive located at the historic bakery. Participants also joined a low-waste cooking session using a solar-powered oven, learning practical ways to incorporate sustainable practices into daily life. All activities were designed to minimise environmental impact: materials were recyclable or compostable, and energy needs were met entirely with solar power. Workshops for the first half of the day were organised through the Leader Fund, co-funded by the European Union and administered by the Gozo Action Group and Fondi.eu. The camp was wrapped up with a Feel4Climate game workshop, a project led by FoEM’s colleagues in Vienna, Global 2000 (Friends of the Earth Austria).
Kamp Kemmuna provides young participants with hands-on experiences in sustainability and nature conservation whilst also fosters a deeper connection to the Maltese islands’ unique biodiversity and environmental heritage. By combining education, action, and mindful living, the camp demonstrates how environmental stewardship can be both practical and transformative.
This initiative reflects FoEM’s long-standing commitment to creating a sustainable environmental hub on Comino, an island that has been central to the organisation’s vision since its early days in the 1980s. In 2022, FoEM acquired the deeds to the old historic bakery and began its restoration, forming Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna, the NGO’s flagship project. The organisation has been maintaining the bakery through ongoing efforts, made possible through the general public support and with the generous support of the Kaizen Foundation, whose contribution directly co-funds the building’s rehabilitation and strengthens FoEM’s capacity to realise this vision. Additionally, FoEM has recently secured funding from Bank of Valletta to begin restoring the historic oven, one of the few surviving traditional Maltese stone ovens, likely of Gozitan craftsmanship, along with other parts of the vernacular building.
Beyond restoration, FoEM collaborates with the Malta Environmental Foundation (MEF) to manage waste on the island, encourage visitors to respect its flora and fauna, and promote the use of pre-established pathways to minimise disturbance to Comino’s indigenous wildlife.
Friends of the Earth Malta would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended Kamp Kemmuna, as well as to all those who support their work on Comino and beyond. If you missed this edition of the camp, stay connected by following FoEM on their social media platforms to receive updates on the next Kamp Kemmuna and other upcoming events. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to keep up with the latest news and initiatives.
