As 2025 comes to a close, Worldchefs’ Food Heroes program continues to grow in reach and impact, reinforcing the importance of early food education around the world. What children learn about food at a young age shapes the choices they make for the rest of their lives, and this belief sits at the heart of Food Heroes, a global education initiative under Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet sustainability programs. Delivered in collaboration with the Electrolux Food Foundation and AIESEC, Food Heroes empowers children to become active participants in positive food change.
Developed as part of UNICEF’s World’s Largest Lesson, Food Heroes delivers engaging, interactive workshops that help young people understand the relationship between food, health, and the planet in a fun and accessible way. Since its launch in 2018, the program has reached more than 300,000 children across over 30 countries, made possible through the long-standing collaboration between Worldchefs, Electrolux Food Foundation, and AIESEC, three organizations united by a shared commitment to building a more sustainable food future. Through hands-on activities, videos, workbooks, and creative challenges, children earn their Food Hero certificate while gaining the knowledge and confidence to make better food choices for themselves and the planet.
A Global Movement in Action
In 2025 alone, the Food Heroes program has continued to expand across regions, led by passionate chefs and community leaders determined to drive change.
This year, Worldchefs highlighted impactful Food Heroes initiatives in Ireland, where the program inspired healthy futures, and in Sri Lanka, home to the largest Food Heroes workshop to date. Beyond these stories, Food Heroes activations have also taken place in countries including Ghana, Namibia, Hungary, the Philippines, and the UAE, among others, reinforcing the program’s growing international impact and relevance.
Food Heroes on the Ground
For many facilitators, Food Heroes is an opportunity to create lasting impact within their own communities. One example is Joseph Chelala, who delivered two Food Heroes workshops at Rafic Hariri High School II in Lebanon.
The workshops took place in October, with each session engaging approximately 25 students aged seven. Reflecting on his involvement, Joseph shared:
“I joined AIESEC as a member in August, and when the Food Heroes program was announced, I immediately applied to take part. Before delivering the sessions, we went through training sessions to learn how to effectively engage and educate kids about sustainability and responsible food habits.”
During the sessions, Joseph guided students through topics such as reducing food waste, eating healthily, and supporting local producers, key actions aligned with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
“While giving the lesson, students were really engaged and enthusiastic about the topics…even though it was sometimes quite a challenge to get their full attention! Students especially enjoyed the interactive activity where they had to draw their own plate, which helped them stay focused for the rest of the lesson, and express their ideas creatively.”
For Joseph, the experience underscored the power of early education and collaboration:
“It honestly felt very rewarding to know that I was contributing, even in a small way, to shaping how students think about sustainability and food choices. I’m grateful for this opportunity to create impact within my community and inspire change around me.”
Stories like Joseph’s highlight how through Food Heroes, local leaders can turn global goals into meaningful, on-the-ground action.
Inspiring a Better Food Future
Across the globe, the Food Heroes program is helping shape the next generation of informed, empowered food citizens. Through Feed the Planet, Worldchefs, Electrolux Food Foundation and AIESEC continue to demonstrate how chefs, young leaders, and educators can work together to inspire healthier choices and a more sustainable future.
To learn more about Food Heroes and Worldchefs’ Feed the Planet programs, click here.
