Inter Campus and Università Bicocca: new project for the Maldives

MALE - Using sport as a vehicle for environmental awareness, linking activities on the pitch with those in the seas to raise a new generation of guardians of coral. This is the idea of Inter Campus, together with the MaRHE Center from the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, who have been engaged in marine education for many years, spreading a culture aware of the effects of climate change.

After being chosen by the UEFA Foundation for Children as one of the projects to receive support: researchers from the MaRHE Centre and Inter Campus staff will develop a specific social methodology to unite their respective skills and dive into a unique programme benefiting around 15 coaches and 200 children, all residing in the 5 islands on the Faafu coral reef in the Maldives (Feeali, Bileiydhoo, Magoodhoo, Dharanboodhoo, Nilandhoo).

In particular, the MaHRE Centre team will take care of educating trainers and young people on safeguarding and protection of coral reefs. As Simone Montano explains, ecology researcher from Milano-Bicocca: “Themes such as tropical marine ecology will be covered with detailed information on biodiversity and the threats that put coral reefs in danger, identifying corals, the idea of coral restoration i.e. repairing damaged portions of the reef”.

Montano continued: “The project will be fundamental for the new generations’ understanding of the impact of climate change on fragile and vital ecosystems”.

Thanks to the project, around 500 square meters of reef will be restored per island, for a total of 2500 square meters of coral restoration carried out by the children themselves.

Inter Campus president, Carlotta Moratti, stated: “It is with great happiness and care that we have taken on this splendid challenge alongside ideal co-workers such as the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca with the MaRHE Center and the UEFA Foundation for Children. Environmental protection is a necessity that we cannot ignore. The earth needs generations that will protect it better than we have done so far. So, investing all our resources and focus on these children who can nourish an understanding and ability in the safeguarding of corals and the environment of these beautiful islands. When we speak about “Playing with Coral”, we adopt the child’s perspective and play is a serious thing for them, very serious. Today, we are at their service and we want to thank them deeply for all they will do as adults for their islands”.

Supplementary to the activities mentioned above, there will be an analysis carried out on the impact of the project to assess its effectiveness to its aims, thanks to joint work from the psychologists at Bicocca and Inter Campus.