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, the project enters its core phase: researchers from the MaRHE Center and Inter Campus staff will develop a specific social methodology to unite their respective skills and dive into a unique educational programme benefiting around 15 coaches and 200 young participants, all residing in the 5 islands on the Faafu coral reef in the Maldives (islands of Feeali, Bileiydhoo, Magoodhoo, Dharanboodhoo, Nilandhoo).

In particular, the MaRHE Center team will take care of educating trainers and young participants on the 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, and the concept of coral restoration, i.e. repairing damaged portions of the reef.”
“The project,” Montano continued, “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.

“It is with great happiness and focus that we have joined this wonderful challenge alongside excellent traveling companions, such as the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca with the MaRHE Center and the UEFA Foundation for Children,” states Carlotta Moratti, President of Inter Campus. “Environmental protection is a necessity that we cannot fail to address. The earth needs generations that protect it better than we have treated it so far. We are therefore investing all our resources and attention in these children, who will be able to develop a conscience and a very attentive, practical skill in safeguarding the corals and the environment of these splendid islands. When we talk about ‘Playing with Corals,’ we adopt the same perspective as the children, and for them, playing is a serious matter, a very serious one. Today, we place ourselves at their service and thank them immensely for what they will do for their islands as they grow up.”

To support the activities described, an impact analysis will be conducted—the result of joint work between psychologists from Bicocca and Inter Campus—to evaluate the effectiveness of the project in relation to its objectives.